Rarely seen works at AGO New exhibit features Impressionist and post-Impressionist icons By Cristiano De Florentiis Samuel Courtauld (1876-1947), heir to a family textile empire with a virtual monopoly on rayon, was one of the most inspired collectors of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art as well as one of the most eminent 20th century English philanthropists. A new and exciting exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) pays homage to Courtauld who, by introducing works of renowned French artists to the English elite, profoundly influenced the study of art in England as well as Anglo-Saxon cultural life in general. But the exhibit, which features over 80 masterpieces by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Seurat, Degas, C�zanne and Modigliani, also gives the AGO a chance to shine the spotlight on the Courtauld Collection itself. While universally regarded as one of the most important of its kind, this collection, of early 20th century modern art has in fact not been seen by a great number of people, especially in North America. "The Courtauld Collection does not travel very often," explained AGO director Maxwell L. Anderson, "but this time it had to be moved from its permanent home, the Somerset House, due to renovations being done to the building. I'm glad that the AGO was chosen over other North American galleries. This is mainly due to the great number of visitors who normally attend our exhibits as well as to the professionalism that we have always shown in handling these kinds of venerated collections." Opened British to new art Examining the collection of masterpieces assembled by Courtauld one almost feels the weight of the impact that he had on British artistic culture, which at the time was dominated by the dictums of the Royal Academy and by the narrative and naturalistic works produced in the Victorian age. Courtauld took the initiative to break through the barrier of Britain's conformist repudiation of French artistic sensibilities. While turn-of-the-century France saw Monet and Renoir art works making their triumphant appearance in the Louvre, in England Impressionistic art was still at the centre of bitter controversy. In 1905, two works by Monet and Degas respectively, donated to the National Gallery Trustees, were flatly rejected by the intended recipients. A few years later, the Gallery denied permission to exhibit a number of renowned Impressionist works owned by Sir Hugh Lane because "they did not conform to the standards that would have justified a temporary inclusion in the National Collection..." Among the rejected art works were paintings by Monet, Morisot, Pissarro and the famous Les parapluies by Renoir. After years of debate, however, in 1917 the Sir Hugh-owned masterpieces were finally exhibited. As legend would have it, it was the Impressionist and post-Impressionist works that captured the imagination of Courtauld. Few 20th century pieces From then on, and until 1929, Samuel Courtauld dedicated most of his time (and fortune) trying to sell the English on the merits of French modern art. At the same time, he was busy assembling his private collection. In less than 10 years he purchased some of the most extraordinary Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces available in the international market. Yet he was no pioneer: he purchased works created in the 20th century on only two occasions: a Picasso and a nude by Modigliani now on display at the AGO. He preferred art works by eminent artists, buying them primarily from established dealers, and often paying hefty prices. Several Manets and C�zannes For example, he paid �24,000 (about $1.5 million today) for Renoir's La Loge and an equal sum for the piece de resistance of the collection: A bar at the Folies-Berg�re, by Manet. In 1926 alone, the collection grew by the addition of three works by C�zanne (including the mysterious Lac D'Annec, bought for �8,000) two Degas, four Seurat and other paintings by Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Boudin, Sisley and Pissarro. The AGO exhibit will also feature Manet's A bar at the Folies-Berg�re (1881-1882), and Le d�jeuner sur l'herbe (around 1867), Renoir's La Loge (1874), and Van Gogh's Peach tree in bloom (1889). The AGO will also exhibit several paintings by C�zanne: Pot of flowers and fruit, Apples, Bottle and Chairback, (1900-'06), Man with a pipe and The card players (both 1893-'96) and by Seurat: Young Woman Powdering Herself, (1888-1891), Nude, (1881-82,) and "Man painting his boat, (around 1883). "We are expecting over 400,000 visitors," said Anderson, "be they young and not so young, from Toronto or elsewhere. We have also set aside Friday for schoolchildren so that even the youngest art lovers can enjoy one of the most important cultural events in the last few years." Anderson commented on the recent thefts that were carried out at Rome's Modern Art Gallery and Paris' Louvre. "These things can happen. Here at the AGO we are well organized and in 100 years we have never had these kinds of problems, nor other problems such as desecration of paintings." Anderson concluded by citing another upcoming AGO exhibit. "In April '99 we shall feature over 100 works (primarily by Italian artists such as Guido Reni and Guercino) belonging to the Vatican Museums. The exhibit will feature a fascinating display of artwork dedicated to Angels." The Courtauld Collection will be run from June 10 to Sept. 20.