Pierre-Auguste Renoir
 Nude amid Landscape, 1883
 oil on canvas
 65 x 54 cm
 Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris
 © Photo RMN - Jean Schormans

During August and September 2001, the National Gallery of Victoria was pleased to host an important exhibition of Impressionist and modern masterpieces from the celebrated Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume Collection of the Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris.

Featuring over eighty paintings from one of the most exciting periods in artistic history, this spectacular exhibition showcased the great names in French art including Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Monet, Rousseau, Modigliani, Derain, Laurencin, Utrillo, Soutine and Picasso.

The core of the Walter-Guillaume collection was collected by the influential art dealer Paul Guillaume in early twentieth century Paris. Guillaume's vision was to create an intimate gallery of modern art, however his early death prevented this being realised in his lifetime. Juliette ("Domenica") Lacaze, Guillaume's widow, continued to enhance the collection with her own acquisitions before bequeathing it to the French state for display at the Musée de l'Orangerie.

The Walter-Guillaume collection evokes a time when Paris was at the centre of artistic and cultural life.

Presented by the Musée de l'Orangerie.

This exhibition has been organised by the Queensland Art Gallery and Art Exhibitions Australia.

Indemnified by the Australian Government, with additional indemnification provided by Arts Victoria, Department of Premier and Cabinet.

© copyright 2001, The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Australia