Barber Institute Acquisition
November 26 2020

Picture: Barber Institute
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
ArtDaily.com has reported on news that the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham has acquired a painting by the French artist Marguerite Gérard (1761 – 1837). Gérard has been more widely known as the sister-in-law of Fragonard, yet, her own work and biography has received much more attention from scholars in recent times. The picture, known as The Reader, was acquired from Galerie Perrin who exhibited the work at TEFAF in Maastricht.
The institute's director Nicola Kalinsky is quoted as saying:
This little painting is a huge delight. Exquisitely painted, it is so evocative of its place and era. It’s really wonderful to have such an interesting work by a highly significant woman artist join the Barber collection, particularly as Gérard deserves to be much known in the United Kingdom. It will hang perfectly on the walls of the galleries, creating new juxtapositions as well as being fascinating in its own right I know Gérard is going to be a great discovery for our audiences.