Camille Pissarro, French, 1831-1903, L'Ile Lacroix à Rouen/Lacroix Island at Rouen, 1883, oil on canvas, 21 x 26in (54.0 x 65.5cm), Gift from the Estate of Robert W. Stoddard, 1998.213

Through June 27, 2004

Imagine yourself amidst the scenery of 42 lush landscape paintings by Corot, Inness, Monet, Sargent, Sisley and many others. Enjoy the forests of Fontainebleau, New England pastures and woodland streams, bustling market squares, city parks and harbor sides.

Featuring paintings from the Museum's collection, Paths to Impressionism traces the evolving styles of the Barbizon and Impressionist movements, explores the artists' changing attitudes about nature, and explains the indelible connection New Englanders have felt with this style of art.

Friends of the Worcester Art Museum may recognize some favorites in this exhibition, and there's lots new to enjoy: rediscovered works of art, paintings on view for the first time in decades, recently conserved paintings and frames, and wonderful behind-the-scenes stories. Escape to the Museum for a day, and lose yourself in the imagery of some of Worcester's greatest treasures.

An exhibition catalogue, written by guest curator Dr. Elizabeth Johns, is available in the Museum Shop.

Concert: Discover Landscapes in Music
Sunday, May 16, 3 p.m. *this is a rescheduled event
Just as painters of the late 19th-century turned to nature for inspiration and subject matter, so too did period composers. Discover an astonishing array of French and American musical depictions of the natural world in a concert inspired by the Worcester Art Museum exhibition Paths to Impressionism: French and American Landscape Paintings. The performance features pianist Malcolm Halliday, mezzo-soprano D'Anna Fortunato, and bass-baritone Robert Osborne. Seating is limited. Free with Museum admission: $8 adults, $6 senior citizens ages 65+ and college students with ID, free for ages 17 and under and free for Museum members.

Following its run at the Worcester Art Museum, this exhibition will travel. Watch for it at these venues:

· Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Pennsylvania
October 31, 2004-February 13, 2005

· Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tennessee
February 23-June 11, 2006

Generous support for this exhibition has been provided by The Florence Gould Foundation, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and WCRB. Paths to Impressionism and related events are offered in conjunction with No Limits to Discovery, a citywide series of cultural events from September 21 December 31, 2003. For a complete listing of events, log on to www.worcestermass.org/culture.

Exhibition programming has been made possible in part by Fleet.

Last Updated: March 25, 2004