Impressionism and Beyond

At the Museo dell’Ara Pacis, an extraordinary selection of 52 masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts—one of the most important museums in the United States—goes on display. The exhibition offers European audiences a rare opportunity to admire works seldom shown outside the U.S., retracing the evolution of modern art between the 19th and 20th centuries.

The exhibition is divided into four sections:

1. From Courbet to Impressionism
Iconic paintings by Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Pissarro and Sisley illustrate the birth and development of the Impressionist revolution, alongside works by modern artists such as Carolus-Duran, Gervex and Liebermann.

2. Post-Impressionism
A selection that highlights the new directions taken by art between the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Redon, Van Gogh, Gauguin and the Nabis (Denis, Vallotton, Bonnard), together with works by Cézanne and by Renoir in his later years.

3. The Early 20th-Century Avant-Garde
The largest section, dedicated to the avant-garde movements of early-1900s Paris: from Picasso’s Rose Period and Cubism to the Fauves, and works by Matisse, Dufy, Gris, Blanchard, Soutine and Modigliani. A vibrant narrative that documents the birth of modern artistic languages.

4. German Expressionism
Thanks to the vision of Wilhelm Valentiner (director from 1924 to 1945), the DIA holds a rich collection of German art. Works by Pechstein, Kandinsky, Feininger, Heckel, Schmidt-Rottluff, Nolde, Kokoschka and Beckmann reflect the creative tensions of the Brücke, the Blaue Reiter and the art of the interwar period.

The Detroit Institute of Arts

Founded in the late 19th century, the DIA is today one of the leading museum institutions in the United States, with more than 65,000 works and over 100 galleries. Its collection of modern European art owes much to the patrons and directors who, throughout the 20th century, built a heritage of international significance.

With this exhibition, the DIA’s masterpieces make an ideal return journey to Europe, offering visitors a captivating look at the origins of modern art.