Van Gogh the toast of museum's 100th birthday

updated 12:11 p.m. ET Nov. 3, 2006

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a large exhibition of works by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh.

The display from Dec. 1 to March 20 will include some of the artist’s best-known paintings, such as “Irises” (1890), “L’Arlesienne” (1890), “A Pair of Leather Clogs” (1888) and “Self-Portrait With Pipe” (1886).

Works have been borrowed from over 40 collections, said museum director Laszlo Baan, including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musee D’Orsay in Paris.

“This is the first truly comprehensive, significant van Gogh exhibition in the region since one in Vienna in 1903,” Culture Minister Istvan Hiller said Thursday.

The works were insured for a total of $760 million, Hiller said at the presentation of the first painting, “Farmhouse in Provence” (1888), which arrived on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Exhibition curator Judit Gesko said 43 paintings, 24 drawings and 10 lithographs and engravings by van Gogh would be shown, as well as an exhibit of old masters such as Rembrandt and Millet, who influenced him. Also displayed will be works by Dutch contemporaries of van Gogh as well as by early 20th century Hungarian painters influenced by him.

MORE FROM EUROPE TRAVEL

Europe Travel Section Front

Steves: Christmas traditions in Europe German Christmas markets mix history, charm Top tips for smart shopping in Europe Rome taxis seek to wipe out tourist scams Rick Steves: Take the long way home The nature of Norway Charlie Chaplin’s Swiss retreat to become museum Explore Tuscan treats, Pisa and Lucca Land of bridges, bandits and bullfights Tips for healthy, happy travels Europe Travel Section Front   Add Europe Travel headlines to your news reader: