Meringues, Macarons and Monet at the NGA

In a major coup for Australian audiences, the National Gallery of Australia is bringing Claude Monet’s pioneering painting Impression, Soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise) 1872, from which Impressionism takes its name, to the Southern Hemisphere for the very first time.

This exclusive exhibition called Monet: Impression Sunrise is the Gallery’s latest blockbuster on from 7 June – 1 September 2019. It will bring together works from the impressionist master and other significant artists to examine the founding of an art movement—a defining moment in art history.

Impression, Soleil levant, which rarely leaves the museum walls in Paris, will be coming to a newly designed exhibition space at the NGA this winter, along with some forty impressionist and related paintings from the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, the Tate, and Australian and New Zealand collections.

The works reveal the formative characteristics of Impressionism, an art movement pioneered by Monet and other Paris-based artists who abandoned the confines of their studios for the outside, sun-kissed world and all the alluring beauty that comes with it. Sunlight is a key feature in their works, with brushstrokes mimicking the transient and pure nature of the rays.

“From waterlilies to seascapes, city and rural landscapes, it is an opportunity to discover the beauty of natural light, colour and fleeting moments captured by Impressionist masters in a newly designed gallery space,” the Gallery says.

You can see it in style by pairing your viewing of Monet with Meringues and Macarons at an unforgettable High Tea. Monet’s Tea Salon will be open temporarily at NGA offering a selection of French-inspired, sweet and savoury delights from 7 June — 21 July 2019 at either 11 am or 2 pm.

The sumptuous high tea can be added as an option whilst purchasing tickets to the show. For $43 per NGA Member or $48 per guest, the cost includes one espresso coffee, a selection of teas or orange juice and one of each of the savoury morsels and sweet treats.

The savoury menu includes classic high tea menu items including a soft mini brioche with cured salmon, dill crème and mustard leaves, ribbon sandwich with citrus poached chicken and herb mayonnaise, ribbon sandwich with cucumber, lime sour cream and fresh mint and mini asparagus, leek and melted gruyere tart.

While the sweet treats have a French influence with items including freshly baked buttermilk scone with local berry preserve and double cream, dark chocolate eclair filled with vanilla cream and candied violet, candied macaron, raspberry and pistachio opera cake, strawberry crème profiterole, french caramelised apple tarte tatin on ginger sable and lemon curd tart with toasted meringue.

Little art lovers are also catered for with a Children’s High Tea for the under 12s for $20 per person. Hot chocolate with marshmallows is on offer along with ribbon sandwiches, scones, eclairs and candied macarons.

MONET’S TEA SALON DETAILS

Book the high tea when you purchase your exhibition ticket at ticketek.com.

Sittings available from 7 June — 21 July 2019 at either 11 am or 2 pm.

To book the high tea only, for children’s menus or for groups of eight or more, contact the National Gallery directly on (02) 6240 6711 or via [email protected].

Original Article published by Sophia Brady on The RiotACT.