Impressionism and Beyond. Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts

From 4 December 2025 to 3 May 2026, the Museo dell’Ara Pacis hosts an extraordinary selection from the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the most important museum institutions in the United States.

Pierre Auguste Renoir Donna in poltrona 1874 Detroit Institute of Arts Bequest of Mrs. Allan Shelden III 1985.24

 It is a rare opportunity to admire in Italy iconic paintings that trace the evolution of modern painting: from the Impressionists Degas and Renoir to the Post-Impressionist innovations of Cézanne and Van Gogh, to the Parisian revolutions of Matisse and Picasso, and the German Expressionism of Kandinsky, Pechstein and Beckmann.

Curated by Ilaria Miarelli Mariani and Claudio Zambianchi, the exhibition reconstructs a historical journey that spans more than fifty years of decisive artistic transformation. It begins in the mid-19th century, when French painters broke away from academic codes to focus on modern life, urban scenes and natural light. Works by Degas, Cézanne and Renoir narrate this epochal shift—an artistic renewal that redefined the relationship between perception, reality and representation.

The exhibition then moves on to the innovations of the next generation, who, after the final Impressionist exhibition in 1886, sought a new formal solidity and an autonomous use of colour. Van Gogh’s vibrant, psychologically charged brushwork, Cézanne’s rigorous construction and Renoir’s reimagining of tradition mark a progression toward modernism. It is during this period that the idea—championed by Roger Fry—emerges of an artwork as an autonomous harmony, independent from the visible world.

Henri Matisse Finestra 1916 Detroit Institute of Arts City of Detroit Purchase 22.14

The central section of the exhibition is dedicated to Paris in the early decades of the 20th century, the global capital of artistic experimentation. The six works by Picasso illustrate the evolution of the master from the Rose Period to Cubism, while Matisse’s paintings testify to his shift from geometric structure to a freer, more sensuous pictorial language. Alongside them, the Cubism of Juan Gris and María Blanchard, together with the expressive force of Modigliani and Soutine, offers a rich and complex panorama.

The exhibition concludes with a significant selection of works from the German avant-garde. Paintings by Kandinsky, Pechstein, Feininger and Emil Nolde reveal the tensions, anxieties and radical experiments that defined German art before and after the war. Beckmann’s powerful Self-Portrait of 1945 conveys the profound uncertainty of the post-war period, making clear the emotional force of Expressionist painting.

Camille Pissarro Il sentiero 1889 Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase 21.34

Impressionism and Beyond is not only a journey through modernity but also an opportunity to discover the richness of American collections and to reflect on the evolution of the European pictorial language. The exhibition is also designed with inclusivity in mind: multisensory visits, workshops, subtitled LIS videos and tactile experiences ensure accessibility for all, confirming the commitment of the Sovrintendenza Capitolina to making museums open, participatory spaces.

Museo dell'Ara Pacis

Lungotevere in Augusta (angolo via Tomacelli) - 00186 Roma

Date

4 dicembre 2025 – 3 maggio 2026