ABU DHABI, UAE – The Louvre Abu Dhabi has displayed new acquisitions including three artworks by Pablo Picasso alongside loans from partner museums and international institutions.
This further strengthens Abu Dhabi as a global hub for culture.
The newly exhibited artworks reinforce the museum’s pivotal role as a trusted partner with cultural institutions worldwide, solidifying its position as the first universal museum in the Arab world for global cultural exchange, a statement issued by Louvre Abu Dhabi said.
From pre-history artefacts to revolutionary works by Pablo Picasso, new stories of cultural connections – spanning centuries and providing a glimpse into the rich tapestry of human creativity and artistic expression – can be found at every turn throughout Louvre Abu Dhabi’s galleries.
Manuel Rabaté, Director, Louvre Abu Dhabi said, “Through our valued partnerships and collaborations, and thanks to the generosity of our lending partners, we continue to create a platform for dialogue and understanding, inviting visitors from around the world to embark on a journey of discovery and appreciation of the museum’s growing collection.”
Among the notable additions include Blue and White Porcelain Dish (China, 1403 – 1425); Figure of Surya, (Cambodia, 9th century); The Prince of Envy and the Abduction of Concord (Southern Netherlands, probably Tournai, ca. 1530); Les Marionnettes by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (France, 1775 – 1778); Terrestrial Globe, by Vincenzo Coronelli (Italy, 1688).
The works by Pablo Picasso comprise Femme à la mandoline (Mademoiselle Léonie assise), France, 1911, Portrait de femme assise (Olga), France, 1923 and Carnet no. 1076, Studies of Youri Gagarine, France, 1959 – 1961
The artworks complement the museum’s narrative and enrich its collection and serve as windows into different eras, civilisations and artistic movements, allowing visitors to connect with the richness and beauty of the shared human heritage.
With the support of France Muséums, a selection of extraordinary loans is brought from French museums including Musée du Louvre, Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou – Musée national d’art moderne, Musée d’Archéologie Nationale – Saint Germain en Laye and Musée des Arts décoratifs.
Other prestigious international lenders that Louvre Abu Dhabi is collaborating with for the first time include the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta that lent a remarkable ornamental pillar, known as Cippi (ca. 2nd century BCE, Malta), which is displayed next to its pair on loan from Musée du Louvre (120 BCE, Malta).
For the first time in over 240 years, the pair is reunited and is currently on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi until June 2024.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is also collaborating with the Museum of Anthropology of Xalapa in Mexico which is lending five iconic artworks that will be on display at the museum later this year.
Among the notable loans are Four Parts of the World, Four statues from Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon; Africa, after Charles Le Brun, Jean Cornu (1674); America, after Charles Le Brun, Gilles Guérin (17th century); Europa, after Charles Le Brun, Pierre Mazeline (1674); Asia, after Charles Le Brun, Roger Léonard (1674); Queen Marie-Antoinette seated, Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun, 1788, France (Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon); Ali Ben Ahmed, Last Caliph of Constantine, Théodore Chassériau, 1845, France (Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon) and Compression Ricard, César Baldaccini, 1962 (Musée national d’art moderne – Centre Pompidou).
These pieces, spanning continents and centuries, converge within the museum’s halls, creating a symphony of artistry and cultural exchange that captivate visitors and ignite their imagination.
Each loan and acquisition tell a unique story, shedding light on the richness of human creativity and the timeless allure of artistic expression.
As these treasures find their temporary home at Louvre Abu Dhabi, they invite guests on a transcendent journey, inviting them to explore the interconnectedness of cultures, the depth of human history and the boundless depths of artistic achievement.
In addition to these new masterpieces, visitors can admire Leonardo da Vinci’s Saint John the Baptist painting, a loan from Musée du Louvre that is on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi until 2024.
Admission to the museum is free for persons under the age of 18, the statement added.