French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was conceived as an immersive, atmospheric journey told through the perspectives of the Bostonian Collectors, as well as the arists themselves. It is a show of two halves that aim to re-contextualise the oft-displayed paintings of the Impressionist movement.
The exhibition design evoked the opulence of 19th-century Boston salons, where many of these works were first collected and displayed. Ten thematic rooms guided visitors through key artistic developments, with richly detailed interiors. It required extensive research into the design codes of period interior design, and incorporated ornate wallpaper, antique furnishings, wainscoting & plastering, detailed flooring, custom printed rugs and an extensive, bold colour palette. This resulted in a multi-sensory experience, transporting visitors into a time of affluence & ornamentation, balancing intimacy with grandeur.
The dramatic sequence of spaces culminated in a final central gallery dedicated to 16 paintings by Claude Monet, which formed the emotional core of the exhibition and served as a reference to the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris.
One of the joys of this exhibition is the extensive collaborations undertaken with passionate local craftspeople and makers, whom lended their expertise in traditional interiors to create a lavishly evocative and historically grounded setting.
*Currently on display as the latest installment of NGV’s Winter Masterpieces series.