Richmond, Virginia —The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announcesElegance and Wonder: Masterpieces of European Art from the Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III Collectionis on view at the museum in Richmond. This exceptional private collection, which the Saunders have assembled over the past 25 years, includes rich oil paintings by preeminent 17th- and 18th-century European artists such as the Brueghel family, Canaletto, Francesco Guardi, Frans Hals, Peter Paul Rubens, Hubert Robert and Pierre-Jacques Volaire, as well as three early 19th-century paintings. The vast display of over 80 works of art also features exquisite decorative art objects from the period.
“I am delighted that Jordan and Tom have chosen to share their collection, one of the most revered private collections in America, with people in the Commonwealth,” said Alex Nyerges, VMFA’s Director and CEO. “We are excited to host these incredible works of art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for our visitors to experience and enjoy. The opportunity to see these magnificent works is rare and should not be missed.”
Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III assembled their collection of European art between the late 1990s and the early 2000s. What began as an avid interest in Flemish and Dutch painting soon encompassed beautifully intricate Asian-inspired decorative artworks as well as stunning paintings and sculptures by several prominent Italian and French artists who worked in the styles of rococo and neoclassicism. Reflecting the couple’s shared vision and distinct tastes, the Saunders Collection is illustrative of one of the most multidimensional periods of European history.
"Elegance and Wonder: Masterpieces of European Art from the Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III Collection"is organized for the museum by Dr. Sylvain Cordier, VMFA’s Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art. “The Saunders Collection covers an extraordinary range of artistic genres, offering us images of people who lived in the 1600s and 1700s through portraiture, glimpses into their everyday environments through close-up perspectives of genre scenes and still lifes, and vistas of the landscapes where they worked, socialized, loved and built families,” said Dr. Cordier. “The inclusion of rare and marvelous decorative arts has allowed us to broaden our regard for the specific social periods that are superbly represented in the paintings, which are rich in character and accented by touches of flamboyance.”
Visitors to the exhibition have a unique viewing experience — the remarkable works of art are installed in newly renovated galleries in the museum’s original 1936 structure. In an enfilade of elegant rooms, the installation invites viewers to experience the works of art in the manner they would have been displayed in an 18th-century palace. To that effect, most rooms are adorned with murals developed from historical designs for interior decors and adapted from original 18th-century architectural drawings carefully selected from the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France.
“It is the first time that the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has presented works of art in its permanent collection galleries in such an immersive way. Our aim is to engage the public’s imagination by creating an environment wherein they can inhabit elegant domestic spaces from bygone eras,” said Dr. Cordier. “The Saunders Collection offers a spectacular, thought-provoking journey throughout historical Europe. It is an invitation to discover the multifaceted contributions of societies and cultures that still have so much to teach us about the world in which we live today. It is a pleasure and an honor for us to have this opportunity to showcase these astounding works at VMFA.”
Admission is free to see "Elegance and Wonder: Masterpieces of European Art from the Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III Collection." For more information about this collection and exhibitions at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, visitwww.VMFA.museum.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is the only art museum in the United States open 365 days a year with free general admission. For additional information, telephone 804.340.1400 or visitwww.VMFA.museum.
