Vernissage
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2010) |
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Private view. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2009. |
A vernissage (varnishing, from French) is a term used for a preview of an art exhibition, often private, before the formal opening. Guests may be served canapés and wine as they discuss with artists and others the works in the exhibition. If the vernissage is not open to the public, but only for invited guests, it is often called a private view.
At official exhibitions, such as the Royal Academy summer exhibition, artists, in the past, would give a finishing touch to their works by varnishing them (J. M. W. Turner was known for making significant changes to works on varnishing day while his fellow academicians were simply varnishing). The custom of patrons and the élite of visiting the academies during the varnishing day prior to the formal opening of the exhibition gave rise to the tradition of celebrating the completion of an art work or a series of art works with friends and sponsors. Nowadays, for commercial shows it is an opportunity to market the works on sale to buyers and critics.
There also is a comparable ceremonial ending of art exhibitions, called a finissage. Larger art exhibitions also may have such an event at half time of the exhibition called a midissage. These latter terms are rare in English; they are more commonly used in German but not in French.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Vernissage. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.
- Vernissage: the magazine of the National Gallery of Canada.