A brief overview of the most anticipated art exhibitions of the coming year in European museums, which you should certainly strive to visit. Especially for you, we have selected forty-four stunning exhibitions in fourteen different cities.

Grand exhibition of Raphael in Rome

First of all, it is definitely necessary to go to Rome, where in spring a grand exhibition of Raphael will be held, timed to the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death. The Italian Renaissance genius died on April 6, 1520, at the age of only 37. The exhibition hall Scuderie del Quirinale promises on this occasion one of the largest exhibitions of Raphael in history. There is every chance for this. The most important works of Rafael from the Italian collections, including masterpieces from the collection of the Uffizi Gallery, will be precisely displayed.
In addition, it is in Rome that almost all frescoes by Raphael, including the famous “Athens School”. So that those who wish can simultaneously see the works of the artist, which are not subject to transportation. In autumn, Raphael’s exhibition will be moved from Rome to the National Gallery of London.
Raphael. Madonna Alba. 1510. National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Raphael. Fornarina. 1519-1520. National gallery of ancient art (Palazzo Barberini), Rome.
Raphael. Self-portrait with a friend. 1518-1519. Louvre, Paris.
Raphael. Madonna della Rosa. 1518-1520. Prado, Madrid.
Raphael. Portrait of Count Baldassaré Castiglione. The year 1513. Louvre, Paris.

The largest exhibition of Jan van Eyck in Ghent

The panels of the inner sashes of the Ghent Altar will remain in their usual place in St. Bavon’s Cathedral in the historic center of Ghent. For the first time in ten years, they will be assembled together, giving viewers the opportunity to compare the restored lower register panels with those of the upper register, the restoration of which will not begin until 2021. At the same time, the famous “Madonna Canonica van der Pale” by Jan van Eyck will remain on permanent display in the Groening Museum in the nearby city of Bruges. This masterpiece of the master can be seen there in a special exhibition.

Francisco Goya Exhibition in Basel

Swiss Basel will host a large retrospective Francisco Goya exhibition in spring and summer. The Museum of the Beieler Foundation traditionally prepares exhibitions of the highest level, selecting only first-class masterpieces for the exposition. The forthcoming retrospective of the outstanding Spanish artist is unlikely to be an exception. Many important works from small museums and private collections are expected, which are not so easy to see by yourself. Of course, it is impossible to imagine a full-scale exhibition of Goya without paintings from the Madrid Prado collection.

Major exhibitions in London

In London in the spring Tate Gallery will show retrospective exhibitions of the outstanding British graphic artist Aubrey Birdsley and founder of pop art Andy Warhol. Aubrey Beardsley’s exhibition will then go to Paris, where it will be possible to see in summer in the Museum of Orsay. The National Gallery of London has planned a retrospective of the Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi for spring and an exhibition of Titian, which for the first time in four centuries will bring together six of his paintings from the mythological cycle commissioned by King Philip II of Spain. Today, these paintings are kept in four different museums. Plus, until early May, the Saatchi Gallery in London has an exhibition of treasures from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, for the first time in a decade and a half leaving Egypt and now touring the world. In autumn, the National Gallery of London will present its version of Raphael’s exhibition. At the same time the Tate Gallery will show the exhibitions of the outstanding French sculptor Auguste Rodin and British artist William Turner.

French Painting Masterpieces Exhibition in Paris

An exhibition of masterpieces of French painting from the collection of Ivan Morozov will open in Paris in autumn. The richest collection of Moscow merchant Bolsheviks was nationalized by one of their first decrees. The world-famous paintings are now divided approximately equally between the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum. Ivan Morozov’s collection will be reunited and shown as one only for the second time in the last century. The first exhibition was held this summer at the Hermitage. However, the exhibition in St. Petersburg turned out to be so weak that it is worth going to Paris only to see with your own eyes how real exhibition blockbusters should be made. In addition, the Paris exhibition is likely to be more complete. Vincent van Gogh‘s painting “Night Café” is expected to be presented there. One of the gems of Ivan Morozov’s collection was sold by the Bolsheviks to American collector Stefan Clark and is now kept in the Yale Gallery.

Louvre Exposition

In spring, several noteworthy exhibitions will be held in Paris at once. The Louvre is planning to show paintings by the outstanding German artist Albrecht Altdorfer and a large exhibition of Italian Renaissance sculpture from Donatello to Michelangelo. Almost simultaneously, the Museum of Orsay will show a retrospective of the French painter James Tisso. The greenhouse in the spring will host an exhibition of Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico, which is currently being finalized in recent weeks in Milan. The Pompidou Center will present an exhibition of the famous Bulgarian artist Hristo and his wife Jeanne-Clotte in March. An exhibition by Henri Matisse will also open in May. Finally, an exhibition of the outstanding British graphic artist Aubrey Birdsley will move from London to the Museum of Orsay in summer. If you plan a trip to Paris in mid-June, you will get to all these exhibitions.
Retrospective exhibition in Vienna
Although the coming year in Vienna, the Austrian capital, will do without the traditional exhibition blockbusters, in autumn it will be quite interesting. Albertina will show a retrospective exhibition of Amedeo Modigliani, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his death. Moreover, the famous Italian artist is promised to show, as one of the revolutionaries of art of the XX century, through the prism of Pablo Picasso. Almost simultaneously, the Museum of Art History will open an exhibition dedicated to women in Titian’s painting. In summer, the World Museum will open a large exhibition on the Aztec civilization, which will last until the end of the year. The place wasn’t chosen by chance – this museum houses one of the most important Aztec cultural monuments, the so-called Montezuma crown.

Moscow Exhibitions

Moscow museums’ exhibition plans for the coming year still look rather modest against the background of other European capitals. The advertised exhibition of Salvador Dali, which will start in the Moscow Manege in January, will actually be far from being as grand as they promise. Although some important works by one of the key artists of the XX century will probably be seen there. In the spring, the Tretyakov Gallery will present a large exhibition devoted to depicting a fairy tale in the works of Russian artists. Of course, it will not do without the masterpieces by Viktor Vasnetsov. Almost simultaneously, Tretyakovka will show an exhibition of official and unofficial Soviet art of the period of stagnation. In autumn, the Tretyakovka will host Robert Falk’s retrospective. The Pushkin Museum promises to bring together eight famous heads of Giuseppe Arcimboldo at the very end of the year.

1-54 African Exhibition of Modern Art

Different locations, Marrakech
19-25 February 2020

Modern art in a thousand-year-old city is a good idea, because contrasts always enhance the impression. Contemporary African art is little familiar to the European viewer, so you can prepare for discoveries. The program includes exhibitions on the theme of ecology (Have You Seen A Horizon Lately?), the results of residences in the desert, the work of modern photographers – it will not be boring, check the full program of the event. And, of course, do not forget to make a detailed route around Morocco.

Titian: Love, Desire, Death

National Gallery, London
March 16 – June 14, 2020

In 1551, Prince Philip ordered Titian, then the most famous artist, a series of paintings based on the plots of classical myths – about love, temptation and revenge. At this exhibition will be all six paintings from the series – the first time in the last four hundred years (they are stored in different collections in Boston, Madrid and London). Titian himself called his paintings poetry, considering them the visual equivalent of poetry.

Christ and Jeanne-Claude

Center Pompidou, Paris
18 March – 15 June 2020

Christo and Jeanne-Claude are a Bulgarian couple of artists (Jeanne is no longer alive), known for their works on the “packaging” of various objects – from the car to the Reichstag building. Their urban public art documentation will be discussed in more detail at the exhibition. The packaging itself will also be realized: the Arc of Triumph (September 19 – October 4) will be wrapped in a silver-blue polypropylene. This will require 25,000 square meters of material and seven kilometers of red rope.

The Roaring Twenties

Smoke and Mirrors: The Roaring Twenties

Kunsthaus, Zurich
April 24 – July 19, 2020

After World War I, art flourished in Berlin, Paris, Vienna and Zurich, and this exhibition allows you to plunge into the very bohemian atmosphere of the roaring twenties. There may not be any loud or famous names, but the curators decided to give a place to the less famous artists of that time, and for the connection with today are responsible for the works of quite modern creators, who were inspired by artistic, design and architectural innovations of the 20s.

Bonus: In November, the exhibition will go to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (27 November 2020 – 4 April 2021).

Edward Munk. Opening of the new museum building

Munch Museum, Oslo
Summer 2020 (exact dates will be announced later)

Munch Museum in Oslo is one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to the works of one artist. Here is an archive of 28,000 of his works – and it will be shown in the new museum building. The perforated metal facade, 13 floors and large space for additional temporary exhibitions of other artists, the first of which will be Tracy Emin, who does not hide his admiration for Munch. It is a landmark event for all lovers of expressionism.

Yaoi Kusama

House of Martin Gropius, Berlin
September 4, 2020 – January 17, 2021

The works of the Japanese artist, the queen of installations and sculptures in red peas, mirror rooms and biomorphic collages will be available this year in different European cities. Our choice is Berlin, simply because there are a lot of other great museums at the same time.

Bonus: in April the exhibition will be in Cologne, in October – in Basel, and in May multi-sensor installations of the artist will find shelter in the Botanical Garden of New York.

Rene Magritte. The Magritte Machine

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
27 October 2020 – 28 February 2021

65 works, including photos and videos, to immerse yourself in the world of Belgian surrealist, who predicted the possibility of creating works of art by machine. The curators of the exhibition offer to decompose this “machine” – the artist’s heritage – into six parts: museum, silhouette, window, mechanism, mimicry and mask. Whatever it means.

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