Geelong Gallery mounts major Impressionist exhibition honoring dealer Paul Durand-Ruel

In a groundbreaking exhibition, the Geelong Gallery in Australia is honoring Paul Durand-Ruel, the French art dealer pivotal in promoting Impressionism in America. This showcase includes over 70 artworks that were once in Durand-Ruel's collection, featuring renowned artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro. In March 1886, he transported over 300 paintings to New York, among them 43 by Monet and 35 by Renoir, during a time when the Paris art scene ridiculed Impressionists for their innovative colors and techniques. Facing financial despair, Durand-Ruel remained a key supporter, and his efforts ultimately led to the movement's acceptance in America. This exhibition also signifies a personal connection, as his great-great-granddaughter is involved in its realization.