Arcadia.
The name itself is enticing.
Actually, Arcadia denotes a mountainous region in central Greece that was presented in Greek and Roman mythology as an earthly paradise. Think Shngra-La.
Arcadia was the land of Pan, the god of woods, fields, and flocks.
Cut off from the rest of Greece by mountains, the people of ancient Arcadia supposedly pursued their simple way of life, built around agriculture and herding. They were at one with nature. But after being conquered by the Romans the land was said to have fallen into decay.
But the image of Arcadia endured as an ideal state of peace and simplicity. And that theme has been used by poets and artists through the ages. Ancient authors such as Theocritus and Virgil sang its praises.
And it appears also in later works of literature such as Arcadia by the Italian poet Sanazaro and The Shepherd's Calendar by English poet Edmund Spenser.
Above you see paintings from Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia which opens June 20 and continues through September 3 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
This exhibition, which is only being shown in Philadelphia showcases the three named artists but also includes masterpieces by artists such as Albert Gleizes, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Signac that emphasize the French tradition of grand public paintings. Works by Nicolas Poussin and others establish the prevalence of the Arcadian theme.
With major loans from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Art Institute of Chicago, Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia allows visitors to experience works created during one of the most innovative and remarkable periods in the history of art.
Summer is the perfect time to visit Arcadia and return to dreams of a perfect world.
And this exhibition is filled with the sensuality of a long, lazy, seductive summer day.
So make sure you visit and take plenty of time to soak up all that these paintings have to offer.
You won;t be disappointed!
Click here for ticket information.
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