For more than 150 years the National Gallery of Victoria has relied on the generosity of the community to build the NGV Collection that we share and enjoy today.
This encyclopaedic collection of more than 70,000 works of art from around the world not only reflects our past and present, but also influences our future. Through the NGV, the people of Victoria have inherited what is undoubtedly the finest art collection in Australia.
A recent acquisition highlight is William Larkin’s Mary, Lady Vere 1612-15, which was the focus of the NGV’s 2014 Annual fundraising appeal. With the help of the community, this spectacular work now holds a prominent place in the seventeenth and eighteenth-century galleries at NGV International.
Inspired by Larkin’s intricate depiction of Lady Vere’s extravagant lace ruff, collar and cuffs, the Victorian branch of the Australian Lace Guild generously supported this acquisition through their own fundraising efforts. Members from the Guild visited Mary, Lady Vere in February and enjoyed an illuminating talk on William Larkin and Lady Vere herself from the NGV’s Senior Curator of International Art, Ted Gott.
The members of the Australian Lace Guild are passionate about the delicate and complex process of lacemaking by hand, and together, possess a wealth of knowledge on the history and practice of lacemaking. To learn more about this intricate process, we invite you to join a free lacemaking demonstration by members of the Australian Lace Guild, to coincide with the exhibition Exquisite Threads.
If you would like to learn more about donating to the National Gallery of Victoria, please contact the NGV Foundation on +61 3 8620 2415 or ngv.foundation@ngv.vic.gov.au.
Sunday 14 June, 2015
11.45am–12.30pm
NGV International
Ground Level, Clemenger BBDO Auditorium
Booking is not required
Information:
Ph +61 3 8662 1555, 10am-5pm daily