Vic: Victorian Gallery sends works for New Zealand opening

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Vic: Victorian Gallery sends works for New Zealand opening

MELBOURNE, April 17 AAP - The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) today announced itwould lend more than a dozen of its 19th century works for the opening exhibition of NewZealand's Christchurch Art Gallery.

NGV director Gerard Vaug said the 16 works included internationally significant paintingsby Cezanne, Manet, Monet, Pissaro, Turner and Constable from the gallery's permanent collection.

"It will mean that visitors to the new Christchurch Art Gallery will be able to enjoytheir new facility as well as a sensational opening show," he said.

"We are delighted to be working with Christchurch Art Gallery as they prepare for theiropening and would also invite our New Zealand friends to visit our new galleries."

Dr Vaughan said many of the works were currently in the United States, where they hadjust completed the NGV's European Masterpieces touring exhibition which attracted morethan 500,000 visitors.

Christchurch Gallery director Tony Preston said the trans-Tasman loan was a publicaffirmation of the fellowship between major Australian and New Zealand cultural institutions.

"We are indebted to our Melbourne colleagues for this generous loan, which will be aspectacular inaugural exhibition - one of the many we will be bringing to New Zealandin the new gallery," Mr Preston said.

Mr Preston previously spent 17 years working for the NGV.

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KEYWORD: PAINTINGS (PIX AVAILABLE)