After its premature closure in 2021 due to the pandemic, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is bringing back its blockbuster French Impressionism exhibition in 2025—this time with even more treasures. Opening on 6 June, the showcase features over 100 iconic works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), including paintings never before seen in Australia.


This exclusive Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness the revolutionary art movement that redefined modern painting. Masterpieces by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt, and Berthe Morisot will take centre stage, displayed in a brand-new immersive exhibition design that evokes 19th-century Parisian salons.


Highlights include a breathtaking gallery dedicated to Monet, featuring 16 of his most celebrated landscapes—from the shimmering waters of Argenteuil to his famed gardens at Giverny. The exhibition also traces the movement’s origins, showcasing early influences like Eugène Boudin and the Barbizon School, who inspired Monet’s pioneering en plein air technique.
New additions to the 2025 edition include Self-Portrait (c. 1876) by Victorine Meurent, best known as Édouard Manet’s muse but also a talented artist in her own right. Another debut is Jean-François Raffaëlli’s The Garlic Seller (c. 1880), capturing Parisian suburban life. A recently restored Degas painting, Degas’s Father Listening to Lorenzo Pagans Playing the Guitar (1869–72), will also be unveiled post-conservation.


The exhibition delves into the personal rivalries and friendships that shaped Impressionism, drawing from letters, journals, and critical reviews of the era. Visitors can also see three works from the NGV’s own collection—including Berthe Morisot’s Embroidery (1889) and Paul Signac’s Gasometers at Clichy (1886)—displayed alongside their international counterparts for the first time.
French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston runs from 6 June to 5 October 2025 at NGV International. Don’t miss this second chance to experience one of the most significant collections of Impressionist art ever to visit Australia. Tickets and details: NGV website.