Art lovers get peek at modern masterpieces

Julian Robertson with Pablo Picasso's <i>Mere aux enfants a l'orange.</i> This painting and four other artworks by European masters are on show from today until next Friday at the Auckland Art Gallery. Photo / Richard Robinson

Picasso's family study, Mere aux enfants a l'orange, is one of five modern masterpieces American billionaire Julian Robertson has brought to New Zealand for a free sneak preview starting today of 15 modern masters he is gifting to the Auckland Art Gallery.

The art collector and philanthropist has selected five works from his New York apartment and flown them out to New Zealand in his private jet for a special one-week show at the gallery.

The other four works are George Braque's La tasse (1911), Henri Matisse's Espagnole (1922), Andre Derain's Paysage a l'Estaque (1906) and Salvador Dali's Instrument masochiste (1933-34), which form part of the 15-strong, $115 million gift, the biggest philanthropic gesture of its kind in Australasia.

Mr Robertson yesterday said the 1951 Picasso was a good one "because Picasso was not the world's nicest guy, but here he is with one of his women and children. I think it is quite a nice family portrait."

Speaking at a civic function hosted by Auckland City Mayor John Banks, Mr Robertson said he and his wife, Josie, viewed the pictures with much love and knew their gift would receive the same affection from the people of New Zealand.

The Robertsons had the idea for the gift after the Auckland Art Gallery hosted an exhibition of 14 paintings from their New York collection in 2006.

The art, to be known as the Julian and Josie Robertson Collection, dates from 1875-1951 and includes works by Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Salvador Dali, Georges Braque, Andre Derain, Fernand Leger, Pierre Bonnard and Henri Fantin-Latour. The two oil paintings by Picasso include one of his most famous Cubist portraits of his mistress Dora Maar, Femme a la resille (1938), and Mere aux enfants a l'orange, featuring his children Claude and Paloma.

Mr Banks said the Robertson gift was among a handful of truly exceptional legacies for which the city would be eternally grateful. It was up there with the Sir George Grey library collection and Sir John Logan Campbell's gift of Cornwall Park. "The art, historical and cultural value places it amongst the most generous philanthropic acts in NZ's history," he said.

Art gallery director Chris Saines called the gift an act of uncommon generosity, saying Aucklanders would be able to witness the giants of modern art. "Your gift will come to reshape our cultural landscape," he said.