Vernissage
Encyclopedia
A vernissage is a term used for a preview of an art exhibition
, often private, before the formal opening
. Guests may be served canapé
s and wine
as they discuss with artists and others the works in the exhibition. If the vernissage is not open to the public, but only for invited guests, it is often called a private view
.
At official exhibitions, such as the Royal Academy summer exhibition
, artists, in the past, would give a finishing touch to their works by varnishing them (J. M. W. Turner
was known for making significant changes to works on varnishing day while his fellow academicians were simply varnishing). The custom of patrons and the élite of visiting the academies during the varnishing day prior to the formal opening of the exhibition gave rise to the tradition of celebrating the completion of an art work or a series of art works with friends and sponsors. Nowadays, for commercial shows it is an opportunity to market the works on sale to buyers and critics.
There also is a comparable ceremonial ending of art exhibitions, called a finissage. Larger art exhibitions also may have such an event at half time of the exhibition called a midissage. These latter terms are rare in English; they are more commonly used in German but not in French.
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
, often private, before the formal opening
Opening
-Games:* Chess opening* Backgammon opening theory* Opening bid, a term from contract bridge-Other:* Grand opening of a business or other institution* Al-Fatiha, "The Opening", first chapter of the Qur'an...
. Guests may be served canapé
Canapé
A canapé is a small, prepared and usually decorative food, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite.- Details :...
s and wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
as they discuss with artists and others the works in the exhibition. If the vernissage is not open to the public, but only for invited guests, it is often called a private view
Private view
A private view is a special viewing of an art exhibition by invitation only, normal at the start of a public exhibition. Typically wine and light refreshments are served on the form of a reception. If the artworks are by a living artist, it is normal for them to attend the private view.An opening...
.
At official exhibitions, such as the Royal Academy summer exhibition
Royal Academy summer exhibition
The Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
, artists, in the past, would give a finishing touch to their works by varnishing them (J. M. W. Turner
J. M. W. Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner RA was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting...
was known for making significant changes to works on varnishing day while his fellow academicians were simply varnishing). The custom of patrons and the élite of visiting the academies during the varnishing day prior to the formal opening of the exhibition gave rise to the tradition of celebrating the completion of an art work or a series of art works with friends and sponsors. Nowadays, for commercial shows it is an opportunity to market the works on sale to buyers and critics.
There also is a comparable ceremonial ending of art exhibitions, called a finissage. Larger art exhibitions also may have such an event at half time of the exhibition called a midissage. These latter terms are rare in English; they are more commonly used in German but not in French.
See also
- Private viewPrivate viewA private view is a special viewing of an art exhibition by invitation only, normal at the start of a public exhibition. Typically wine and light refreshments are served on the form of a reception. If the artworks are by a living artist, it is normal for them to attend the private view.An opening...
- Vernissage - Die Zeitschrift zur Ausstellung