LE SIÈCLE FRANÇAIS

Le siècle français. 18th century French art is the biggest exhibition of 18th century French art in the history of The National Museum in Warsaw and the first so large presentation of its kind in Poland. We would like to show the paintings and drawings of Jean-Baptiste Greuze, Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, Nicolas de Largillièrre, Hubert Robert, Claude-Joseph Vernet, Antoine Watteau. Of particular part to the exhibition will be the work of French artists active in Poland: André Le Brun, Victor Louis, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, Jean-Pierre Norblin. 

Our objective is to present the great variety and richness of French 18^th century art – from late baroque through rococo to classicism; historical and religious subjects, portrait, landscape and genre. The other purpose of the exhibition is to stress the cultural role of France and its influences on art and collectors’ taste in 18^th century Europe, in particularly in Poland. 

Our project will comprise of 64 paintings and 94 drawings, water colours and pastels from Polish public collections: The National Museums of Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław and Kraków, The Royal Castle in Warsaw, The Palace at Łazienki, The Museum-Palace in Wilanów, The Princes Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, The Palace in Jabłonna and The Cabinet of Prints and Drawings at the Warsaw University. 

Curators: Iwona Danielewicz, Justyna Guze