Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1991-92

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC Prints and Posters from the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris This exhibition, which was negotiated, selected and organised by the Queensland A r t Gallery in association with the Bibliothèque Nationale, proved to be one of Australia's most significant visual arts events and was a major coup for the Queensland Art Gallery, which initiated the project in 1989. It exceeded al pre-exhibition projections and achieved national and international recognition for the Gallery. Revenue raised enabled the Gallery to make significant additions to the international collection. The exhibition was presented at two venues in Australia and was also shown in Paris. The Australian presentation enjoyed great scholarly, critical and popular success. A total of 150 000 people visited the exhibition in Australia -85 000 at the Queensland Art Gallery and 65 000 at the National Gallery of Victoria - representing The Parisian cafe-style one of the highest attendances ever achieved at both Galleries for a visiting exhibition. entrance to the exhibition 'Toulouse- The Queensland Art Gallery extends its gratitude to Monsieur Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, Administrateur Général de Lautrec...' la Bibliothéque Nationale, and his staff for enabling this most exceptional collection of works to be exhibited in two Australian State Galleries before returning to Paris for display at the Bibliothèque Nationale. The exhibition consisted of 252 superb graphic works from Toulouse-Lautrec's own £ I Collection, donated to the Bibliothéque Nationale by the artist's mother, the Countess Adele de Toulouse-Lautrec, in 1901. These works had never been displayed before in a . . major exhibition. NINO The Gallery is also most grateful to the former Ambassador of France, His Excellency A Monsieur Roger Duzer, and to his successor, His Excellency Monsieur Philippe Baude, as well as to the French Consul General in Sydney, Monsieur Xavier Driencourt, al of whom ' provided exceptional and enthusiastic support for the project. I The exhibition was a model for inter-institutional co-operation and collaboration between staff of both organisations, which resulted in the development of the exhibition from its conception, the joint selection of works by staff of the Bibliothéque Nationale and Queensland Art Gallery, and the joint production of the bilingual catalogue. Selection of the 252 works was undertaken by the Gallery's Deputy Director & Manager, International Programs, Dr Caroline Turner (who also negotiated the exhibition) and Curator of Prints, The cover of the10 bilingual (French /English) , Drawings & Photographs, Ms Anne Kirker, in catalogue which . / collaboration with Bibliothèque Nationale accompanied the ' curator, Monsieur Claude Bouret. exhibition 'Toulouse- The official opening of the world premiere Lautrec...' ' of this exhibition at the Gallery on Tuesday 20 August 1991 was a most prestigious event. The exhibition was opened by the Hon. E.G. Whitlam, ç ' , AO, QC, former Prime Minister of Australia, with addresses given by His Excellency Monsieur - . Philippe Baude, Ambassador of France to / Australia, and the Hon. Wayne Goss, MLA, Premier of Queensland. The opening was attended by approximately 1000 guests - representatives of both Governments, Australian arts organisations, the French community, sponsors and the local business community, as 8