A Vincent van Gogh painting completed shortly before the artist's death will be displayed in Adelaide for the first time as part of an exclusive exhibition featuring rarely seen masterpieces. The "Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition" exhibition will showcase 57 works on loan from the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, marking the first time many of these pieces have been seen in Australia.
The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) will host the exhibition, which features works from some of the most influential artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas. AGSA Director Jason Smith called the exhibition "a coup" and expressed confidence that at least 80,000 visitors, possibly more, will attend the show.
"It's a coup because this will be the first time a van Gogh painting has been seen in South Australia," Smith said. "It is such a luminous treasure that it really needs to be seen in reality. We feel very confident that 80,000 people, perhaps more, will see this show." The exhibition represents a unique opportunity, as it's the first time the Toledo gallery has toured so many masterpieces from its permanent collection while the U.S. museum undergoes refurbishments.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is van Gogh's 1890 painting "Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers," painted shortly before the artist's death. Smith emphasized the exceptional nature of this work, noting its large scale and the irreplaceable experience of viewing it in person. "There is absolutely nothing like standing before a painting. The scale of this van Gogh is exceptional, and it's one of his largest paintings," he explained. "It's a demonstration that the true beauty and luminosity and power of a painting can only be experienced in real life and not in production."
The collection traces the development of modern art across Europe and the United States, showcasing the evolution of artistic styles from impressionism through cubism, surrealism, and abstract expressionism. Project curator Tansy Curtin explained that the exhibition will feature both well-known masterpieces, such as Monet's Water Lilies, and works from lesser-known artists, making it accessible to both art experts and novices.
"There is a whole range of different works of art in here for people who know art really well and for people who are perhaps novices," Curtin said. She highlighted the revolutionary nature of these artists' work, noting how "the first impressionist show was derided across the arts community" and emphasizing that "these artists really were at the vanguard of creating art across this period."
The exhibition's theme of "defiance and rejecting tradition" reflects the groundbreaking nature of the featured artists' work. Curtin explained that this spirit of rebellion against established norms was central to all the artists represented in the show. In addition to the Toledo Museum pieces, close to 50 works from AGSA's own collection will be featured, including pieces by Manet, Matisse, Picasso, and Whistler.
The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between AGSA, the South Australia Tourism Commission, and represents part of a $10 million investment over four years from the state government. Curtin expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "It's a great chance to celebrate our collection as well and to celebrate the riches of South Australia. I really want people to have a chance to connect with works of art that are rarely on display in Adelaide, let alone Australia."
"Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition" is scheduled to open in July 2026 and will be the first of four major exhibitions planned for AGSA's winter program. The exhibition promises to offer visitors an unprecedented opportunity to experience world-class art that would otherwise require international travel to view.
