Art fans flock to Rome for Gauguin's greats

By Coralie Mevs

ROME, Nov. 19 - In a first for the Eternal City, an unprecedented collection of the French master Paul Gauguin's pieces have been gathered from museums around the world for a new collection at Complesso Del Vittoriano. The Matthew Online toured “Paul Gauguin: Myths and Dreams” at the Vittoriano last week.

Stepping into the gallery, visitors are greeted by a bold Gauguin statement: "Everything I have learnt from anybody else has always been an impediment to me. Hence I can say: Nobody ever taught me anything. It is true that I know little! But I prefer the little I have created which is
truly mine."

Just inside, there are 150 of Gauguin's best works to see.

The exhibition starts with a short biography of the artist. It is through his works of oil, paintings, ceramic, and sculptures that each step in his life is illustrated.  Step-by-step visitors are guided from Gauguin's impressionist years to his final days in Tahiti. In between are his days in Brittany, Paris, Martinique and the School of Ponte-Aven where he met Emile Bernard, a lifetime friend and collaborator.

Master pieces on display include ‘The Gossipers’, 1891, lent by the Hermitage in St. Petersburg; ‘Mette asleep on a sofa’, 1875.

Last Thurdsday, the Vittoriano was filled with appasionati who came from around the world to see these master pieces as well as to see a new perspective on the maestro's prolific life.

Joseph Issa, a Lebanese art collector and member of the International Council of Museums, (ICOM); as well as a member in the board of trusties of the 'Musee d'Art Haitien' told The Matthew Online, "there is nothing better than being told Gauguin's life through Gauguin himself."

The exhibition continues until February 3rd, 2008, plenty of time to witness the grand master’s best work.