The ballroom at Arles, Vincent Van Gogh. (1888)
If you’re a history buff or art lover, then you must head to the Louvre Abu Dhabi this fall. The Abu Dhabi branch of the famed French museum has announced nearly a dozen exciting new acquisitions that will be unveiled at the end of October. “Louvre Abu Dhabi is proud to add 11 new monumental acquisitions to its collection,” said Manuel Rabaté, the museum’s director, in an official statement. “Building a collection is a gradual and rigorous process through the selection of marvelous pieces, and we hope visitors delight in discovering and learning about these new ones as much as we do.”
Among the recently acquired art works set to be displayed is a monumental Buddhist sculpture from China that dates back to the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), a centuries-old conical helmet from Eastern Asia, a late 15-century Mamluk carpet from Egypt, and one of 20 Ottoman horse armors yet discovered. The purchased pieces will join the 657 artworks on display as part of the permanent collection of Louvre Abu Dhabi. “The galleries’ update illustrates our commitment to train and champion the next generation of Emirati museum professionals who have been working over the years and now take great care of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection and galleries,” notes His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
What’s even more exciting is that alongside the 11 acquisitions, the museum is also bringing in 40 new loans from a number of renowned French institutions so visitors can come face-to-face with some of history’s most famous masterpieces. The loans include works by the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Francis Picabia, Henri Matisse, and Man Ray. “Louvre Abu Dhabi’s programme of new exhibitions and rotations of loans from our partners means we are able to enrich our permanent galleries regularly,” explains Dr. Souraya Noujaim, Scientific, Curatorial and Collections management director of the museum. “This month, we welcome a new set of masterpieces to the museum, ensuring that first-time and repeat visitors alike will find something to fascinate and inspire them as we celebrate culture and creativity from all areas of the world.”
