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• Artist
  Jeffrey Smart
• Title
  Truck and trailer approaching a city
• Date of Production
  1973
• Medium
  synthetic polymer paint on canvas
• Dimensions
  74.5 x 150 cm
• Credit Details
  Painting Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales. Purchased under the terms of the Florence Turner Blake Bequest, 1980. © Jeffrey Smart. Australian Modern Masterpieces - an exhibition from the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Australian Modern Masterpieces from the Art Gallery of New South Wales

This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see 60 of the most important 20^th century Australian paintings including 40 works from collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It provides a unique insight into the history of Australian modern art from the 1920s to the 1970s, recognizing the extraordinary ability of Australian artists and the pivotal role they played in capturing the lives and moments of Australians in recent times.

It includes prominent pieces by Margaret Olley, Margaret Preston, Arthur Boyd, John Brack, Grace Cossington Smith, William Dobell, Donald Friend and Sidney Nolan, John Olsen and Brett Whiteley among others.

These works have been carefully chosen from the collection of the AGNSW to enable visitors to explore the work of certain artists in depth, while presenting overall a survey of what was happening in Australian art during a critical 75 year period of our country's history.

To complement the works on tour from Sydney are 20 paintings from the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat  and one further work from the Newcastle Region Art Gallery.

The earliest work in the show was painted by a 23 year old Australian art student in 1915, the year of the military disaster at Gallipoli, considered by many to be the true birth of an Australian sense of nationhood.

The exhibition concludes with the work of men and women who were students during or just after the Second World War. Nearly all these artists have passed away within the last 25 years.  Jeffrey Smart, Yvonne Audette and John Olsen excluded, the work displayed in this exhibition represents a recently closed chapter in Australian art.

There are a range of special events on offer as well - check the Event page for details

Tours

Join one of the Gallery's Volunteer Guides for a special guided tour of the show, included in your entry free. The exhibition tours are available Wednesday to Sunday at 11am.

Accommodation packages

Accommodation packages to Australian Modern Masterpieces are available from Novotel Forest Resort Creswick - from $143 per night and Mercure Ballarat -  from $125 per night. These rates include one night's accommodation and free entry to the exhibition.

Bookings can be made via http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/booking/hotels-list.shtml or direct to the hotels:
Mercure Ballarat 03 5327 1200; Novotel Forest Resort 03 5345 9600

V/Line discount

If you travel to Ballarat by train, just present your VLine ticket for a 20% discount on your exhibition ticket.

Food and Art Packages

While you're at the Gallery, take some time out at Sweet Decadence at the Gallery - you can buy a morning and afternoon package which includes entry to the exhibition for just $14.50 or buy a lunch and exhibition package for $26.50.

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