Rare Edgar Degas Exhibit Continues at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
The American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay (AFMO) announces today a $50,000 grant from the Annenberg Foundation that further supports a model American and French collaboration—the production of an exhibit of rare works by Edgar Degas titled Degas and the Nude by the Musée d’Orsay and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
This U.S.- France collaboration was created through two of the world’s best collections of work of 19th century artist Edgar Degas. This is the first time an exhibition has been devoted to Degas’ nudes, created largely in oil pastel on paper. Many of the drawings had never been exhibited due to the effects of prolonged exposure to light. These pastel artworks can only be displayed for six months at a time, to protect them from deterioration.
The exhibit is currently at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France until July 1, 2012.
The exhibition was shown in Boston October 9, 2011-February 5, 2012.
The Annenberg Foundation is among the most generous American contributors to France. Based in France, Gregory Annenberg Weingarten is a Vice President and Director of the Annenberg Foundation. Weingarten has a deep appreciation for the visual and performing arts, education and global well-being.
Weingarten comments, “I’m delighted to support the American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay because there are and always have been endless possibilities for cultural and artistic collaborations between the U.S. and France. As an artist who draws from the figure, I have always been a great admirer of Degas. He is one of the ultimate masters in art history, not only in technique but in compositions full of psychological intensity.”
The newly-formed AFMO is a U.S. tax-exempt non-profit that supports the operations of the Musée d’Orsay. AFMO exists to fund exhibitions (many of which travel to the United States), acquisitions, education programming in English and capital improvements of the museum. Past projects include the exhibition Manet, Inventor of Modernity and significant renovations of the museum’s galleries. More information is available at www.aforsay.org.
