The special exhibition All Things Bright & Beautiful brings together 60 California Impressionist paintings from the collections of the Irvine Museum. It is the only museum in California dedicated to the preservation and display of California Impressionism, or Plein-Air painting, an art style that flourished from 1890 to 1930.

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Impressionism remains one of the most popular styles of art in the world. Mention “Monet” or “Renoir” and images of brightly colored canvases depicting lush landscapes come to mind.

While Impressionism is most closely associated with French artists, students flocking to Paris from the United States and throughout Europe in the late 19th century were introduced firsthand to Impressionism. They became enamored of painting outdoors in front of their motifs, as well as with the pastel tones and broken brushstrokes that characterized Impressionist paintings.

The influence of Impressionism eventually stretched all the way to the shores of Southern California in the early twentieth century. California artists had the benefit of access to spectacular landscapes and a fair climate that allowed them to paint outdoors much of the year. During this period, outdoor landscape painting became the most-admired style of art in the "Golden State" and also the style practiced by the majority of artists there.

The beautiful paintings in this exhibition are principally landscapes that document the lush splendor of the Golden State before its huge population growth — immense poppy fields, uninterrupted forest, and vacant, sun-startled coastline.

EXHIBITION ADMISSION:
Adults: $10
Seniors (60+): $8
Students (18+ w/ID): $8
Youth (7-18): $6
Children (6 & under): Free
Museum Members: Free