Louvre exhibit on masterpieces at Mpls museum

Louvre exhibit on masterpieces at Mpls museum

MINNEAPOLIS — Works of art by Michelangelo and Vermeer are among 62 items from the Louvre in Paris now on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

“The Louvre and the Masterpiece” features items drawn from all eight of the Louvre’s collection areas, covering 4,000 years of art.

The exhibition is made up of three sections, exploring the themes of changing definitions of a masterpiece; authenticity and connoisseurship; and the evolution of taste.

One display looks at how ancient objects created before the concept of a masterpiece existed can still be considered exceptional because of their beauty or the technical expertise involved in their production. In some cases in the show, similar objects are displayed together, and visitors are encouraged to find the piece in the group that’s considered a masterpiece.

The exhibit comes to Minneapolis from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. It’s presented by U.S. Bank.

“The Louvre and the Masterpiece” runs through Jan. 10, 2010. Details at www.artsmia.org.