Rarely seen in Europe

Pierre Gianadda Foundation, Martigny, Switzerland

Duncan Phillips saw as the cornerstone of his collection, which was opened to the public in 1921, Renoir’s "Luncheon of the Boating Party," showing friends and acquaintances of the painter on a terrace on the banks of the Seine. Now, during renovations for a modern art study center, the renowned Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, is sending 55 of is most important paintings on tour. The exhibition includes works by Cézanne, Courbet, Daumier, Degas, van Gogh and Monet. It's only the second time the Renoir painting will be shown outside Washington in nearly 15 years.

"Art Beyond Isms: Masterworks from El Greco to Picasso" runs from May 27 through Sept. 27. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Austrian-Jewish life

Jewish Museum Vienna

During the era of Austria's First Republic (1918-1938), more than 200,000 Jews lived in Vienna -- almost 11 per cent of the population. They were visible in all aspects of public life and had a marked influence on many areas of culture and politics. By no means an isolated, homogeneous group, they included reformers, visionaries, dreamers, fortune-hunters and wealthy patrons of the arts. The exhibition documents the various aspects of the Jewish experience in Vienna during its last flowering, and showcases the history of the Jews in the pre-Holocaust era.

"Vienna, City of Jews: The World of Tante Jolesch" runs through Oct. 31, 2004. The exhibit is open from Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Saturdays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur holidays.

Islamic treasures

Louvre Museum, Paris

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has one of the world's finest collections of Islamic art, 30 masterpieces of which are on view at the Louvre. The works originate from various regions of the Islamic world and represent periods ranging from the 9th century to the zenith of Islamic culture reached by the great empires of the modern era. Including a selection of objects from the Nishapur archeological site in eastern Iran. The most spectacular object is without question a large enameled and gilded glass bowl produced in a Syrian workshop in the 13th century. It is a magnificent example of the technique of polychrome enameling and gilding developed in the Islamic East from the late 12th century.

"Thirty Masterpieces of Islamic Art" is on view through April 25, 2005. The Louvre is open every day except Tuesdays, from 9 am to 6:45 pm; Mondays and Wednesdays until 9:45 p.m.

Contemporary crusade

K20K21 Kunstsammlung NRW, Düsseldorf, Germany

In recent years a regular name in the contemporary art scene, Thomas Schütte's work has been shown internationally. Now visitors can get an overview of the German artist's diverse work from 1998 to the present day. The exhibition includes larger than life-sized sculptures made of steel and bronze, new architectural models, figurative ceramics, watercolors and etchings.

"Thomas Schütte - Kreuzzug (Crusade)" runs until Sept. 19, 2004. It is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chagall retrospective

Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Turin, Italy

Fifty years after the huge Marc Chagall exhibit in Turin, which the artist himself curated, the city is hosting a comprehensive retrospective of the Russian-French painter's works. The show exhibits some 140 well-known pieces mainly from private collections, including the Cubist-inspired "The Apparition" (1917), the poetic "The Stroll" (1917/18) and "Au-dessus de la Ville" (1914/18). Renowned Chagall expert Jean-Michel Foray and the artist's granddaughter, Meret Meyer, were involved in curating the show.

"Marc Chagall: A 20th Century Master" runs through July 4, 2004. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., Thursdays until 11 p.m.