Final weekend sell-out as Renoir viewings reach 11k
The Renoir in Guernsey 1883 exhibition at Candie Gardens enjoyed a sold-out final weekend as visitors flocked to catch one last glimpse of the famous artwork.
The exhibition opened in September and showcased 10 works by 19th century impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Head of heritage services Helen Glencross said that approximately 11,000 people had seen the exhibition, including 3,500 students from the island’s schools.
‘We usually get between four and five thousand visitors during a “normal” exhibition period, so to get over double that has been fantastic.
‘We were estimating we’d get about 10,000 so to beat that mark is wonderful and we are delighted.’
She said the feedback that had been left in the exhibition’s visitors’ book had been overwhelmingly positive.
‘People loved the paintings, particularly the Baie de Salerne painting, due to the possibility that it could in fact be Guernsey.’
With the exhibition now finished, the paintings will be checked and packed, before being transported back to their relevant lenders via France and London.
‘Everyone involved in putting this together is delighted with how it’s gone. The lenders had tight criteria that needed to be satisfied in order for the conditions to be right for the paintings, but we’ve shown it can be done,’ Mrs Glencross said.
‘We invested a lot in the building in order to get the conditions right and to make sure the security was of a high level.’
She was unsure as to whether a similar exhibition may be put together in future, but was keen for one to happen.
‘We’d be delighted to do another.’
Fin Ward and Juliet Martel were two of the visitors making the most of the last chance to view the exhibition.
‘It’s our first time seeing it, I’m friends with Jock Pettitt, from Art For Guernsey, and I’ve been meaning to come ever since the first day it opened,’ Mr Ward said.
It’s really nice to see the paintings, and we particularly liked the ones that were instantly recognisable as Guernsey.
‘Hopefully something similar happens again in the future as it would no doubt bring more tourists to the island.’
Laura Preston was accompanying Sophia Hughes, 5, to the exhibition for the first time.
‘I’m glad we made it as I was worried we had missed the boat, some of the paintings are gorgeous,’ she said.
She thought it was important that the island built on the exhibition’s success in the future.
‘To have the opportunity to do something like this is wonderful, we must make the most of it.’
