Some of the world's greatest impressionist masterpieces will visit Australia next March for an exclusive exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
More than 65 works from the likes of Monet, Renoir and Cezanne will be loaned from the Musee d'Orsay's renowned collection in France.
The exhibition charts the revolution of colour that lies at the heart of impressionism and will include Monet's celebrated work, La Pie (The Magpie).
The Art Gallery of South Australia's director, Nick Mitzevich, believes it is the most important exhibition ever to be shown at the gallery.
"With so few Impressionist works held in Australian collections, the exhibition presents a rare opportunity for Australians to see the movement's radical evolution of colour," he said.
"I would like to thank the Musee d'Orsay for sharing this remarkable collection with Australia."
Other masterpieces being shipped over will come from Manet, Morisot and Pissarro.
"We anticipate that an exhibition of this calibre and content will have broad appeal, and that the focus on colour will provide a unique perspective on one of the most ground-breaking movements in Western art," Mr Mitzevitch said.
In an unprecedented move, the exhibition will be staged in one of Australia's few 19th century gallery spaces, the Elder Wing.
Mr Mitzevitch said it was a fitting backdrop.
"The Elder Wing recalls the light-filled interior of the former metro station that now houses the Musee d'Orsay on Paris' Left Bank," he said.
Musee d'Orsay president, Laurence des Cars, said the paintings were carefully selected from a collection which he regards as the best in the world.
"Masterpieces like Manet's Serveuse de bocks [The Waitress], Cezanne's Golfe de Marseille [Bay of Marseille], Caillebotte's Vue des Toits [Rooftops], and Renoir's Gabrielle à la rose [Gabrielle with a Rose] will be on display," he said.
"After the exhibition The Impressionists: Masterpieces from the Musee d'Orsay, organised in 2004 in Melbourne, the Musee d'Orsay has continued to forge links with leading Australian cultural institutions."
South Australia's Arts Minister and Premier Jay Mr Weatherill described it as a huge coup for not only his state but Australia.
"It will attract many people from around the nation though so it will be a wonderful event for South Australian tourism," he said.
"It's also an extraordinary opportunity for kids coming in and seeing them, they don't have to travel to France, they can be here right in Adelaide."
The exhibition will be staged between from late March 2018 and until late July 2018.
