European masters on show at Riddoch

AN exhibition featuring the finest pieces of artwork by some of the greatest European artists of all time will be on display at the Riddoch Art Gallery this month.

A European tour from the Collection of Carrick Hill will be the first exhibition at a gallery in regional South Australia to host a selection of works from the European art collection of Carrick Hill.

Works from masters such as Henri Matisse, Stanley Spencer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Derwent Lees, and Augustus John are drawn from the Hayward family's collection, which was bequeathed to the people of South Australia.

Director of Carrick Hill Alan Smith said the selection of representative works from mid-17th to mid-20th century European artists gave a taste of the whole Carrick Hill collection – a mixture of traditional and avante-garde Dutch, German, British and French pieces.

The collection is on loan to the Riddoch Art Gallery while the Carrick Hill estate undergoes conservation work.

"This is a lovely opportunity for us to be able to show some of our collection in the South East," Mr Smith said. "We're delighted to be able to share it."

"We hope it encourages people from the South East, who have seen this little taste of what is there, to come up and visit Carrick Hill."

Nestled in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, Carrick Hill was once the home of wealthy socialites Sir Edward and Ursula Hayward, who spent three decades building up their impressive collection.

The estate now hosts a priceless assortment of art, porcelain, fine silver and 17th century oak furniture, all of which is open for the South Australian public to enjoy.

A European tour from the Collection of Carrick Hill is now on show at the Riddoch Art Gallery until July 25.