Exhibit Features Rare Impressionist Masterpieces from Dalí, Monet, Renoir, Degas & More
St. Petersburg, FL — The Dalí Museum presents a sensational special exhibition, “Dalí & the Impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Degas & More,” the first-of-its-kind examination of Salvador Dalí’s profound engagement with the Impressionist movement. On display from November 18, 2023, to April 28, 2024, the exhibition is organized in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), which houses one of the foremost collections of French Impressionism in the United States.
Alongside Dalí’s early works, the exhibition shares an outstanding selection of paintings from the MFA, Boston’s collection, including works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse and more. Many of the paintings will be on view for the first time in the state of Florida, offering a rare opportunity for visitors to view these French Impressionist masterpieces.
Dr. William Jeffett, the Museum’s Chief Curator, and curator of the exhibition, said, “Placing a selection from the Museum’s outstanding collection of Dalí’s early works in dialog with such remarkable Impressionist compositions conveys the palpable mark this movement left on Dalí’s artistic journey. The Impressionists’ core principles of rebellion and dedication to place stayed with Dalí throughout the entirety of his career.”
In his formative years, from 1918 to 1924, Dalí was deeply influenced by the Impressionist movement, and it laid the groundwork for his evolving painting style. Considered by many to be the first “modern” artists, the Impressionists rejected many of the conventions of painting that had come before, leaving the studio to venture outdoors with their easels. As Manet wrote in 1868, “I can do nothing without Nature. I do not know how to make things up.”
“Through still-life, portraits and landscapes, this exhibition offers an illuminating look at the impact of Impressionist painting on the young Dalí, in the use of vibrant color, loose brushwork, and nuanced attention to light and atmosphere,” said Julia Welch, Assistant Curator of European Paintings at MFA Boston. “Seeing the MFA Boston’s well-known Impressionist masterpieces in this context also allows us to consider these artists from a new perspective. Decades after their emergence on the modern art scene, their innovative approach to painting had a profound influence on the formation of one of the 20th century’s most inventive artists.”
In conjunction with the special exhibition, The Dalí offers two unique experiences that blend art and technology, allowing guests to become part of the art. Through Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, the “YOUR PORTRAIT” experience allows visitors to transform their self-portrait into a unique Impressionist painting. The Dalí’s “Dream Tapestry” experience invites guests to manifest a dream into a one-of-a-kind image inspired by the genre of Impressionism. During each process, guests learn about the technology while gaining a deeper understanding of Impressionist techniques.
Also on view: The popular “Dalí Alive 360°” exhibition will continue to astonish visitors via a multi-sensory digital art experience that envelops guests in 360 degrees of light and sound. With multiple showtimes daily in The Dalí Dome, dynamic animations of Dalí’s works illuminate the challenges and triumphs of the artist’s career and provide the sensation of stepping into the creative mind of the artist himself.
“Leonora Carrington: Writer, Painter, Visionary” provides an up-close look at the life of the acclaimed Surrealist Leonora Carrington (1917-2011). The exhibition celebrates her mystical and fantastical work, featuring a suite of etchings and selections from the holdings of The Dalí Museum Library and Center for the Avant-garde. This graphic presentation offers a unique glimpse into Carrington’s artful exploration of text over the course of her long career.
“Dalí & the Impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Degas & More” is curated by Dr. William Jeffett and organized in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The presenting sponsor of “Dalí & the Impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Degas & More” is Kane’s Furniture, with support from Kay & Joel Bronstein, Betsy Schweitzer, Sandy Taraszki & David Zuern, Adele Visaggio, airport partner St. Pete – Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and hotel partner The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection.
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About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in picturesque downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., is home to one of the most acclaimed collections of a single modern artist in the world, with over 2,400 works representing every moment and medium of Salvador Dalí’s creative life. The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating; has been deemed a museum that “puts innovation front and center” by CNN Travel; and was named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. The Dalí’s acclaimed digital experiences have received numerous national and international awards for creative innovation. The Museum is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve Dalí’s legacy for generations to come and serve as an active resource in the cultural life of the community and the world at large. The Dalí is open daily, located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701. For more information, visit TheDali.org.
About the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The MFA brings many worlds together through art. Showcasing masterpieces from ancient to modern, our renowned collection of nearly 500,000 works tells a multifaceted story of the human experience—a story that holds unique meaning for everyone. From Boston locals to international travelers, visitors from all over come to experience the MFA—where they reveal connections, explore differences and create a community where all belong. Open six days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Monday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; and Thursday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Plan your visit at mfa.org.
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