From Renaissance to Rodin: Celebrating the Tanenbaum Gift

October 1, 2011 – April 1, 2012

Joey and Toby Tanenbaum's dedication to the European Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario is palpable in each of the works that they have donated since 1985. Each betrays a love of richness and visual depth, an interest in the tension between pleasure and morality, and a dedication to the needs of their city public. The sensuous marble surface of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's bust of Pope Gregory XV (1621) proclaims Rome's papal authority, while the panel The Expulsion of the Money-Changers (1480-1500), attributed to the anonymous Master of the Kress Epiphany, teaches about the boundaries between the sacred and secular with a riot of figures and movement. Hendrick Andriessen's Still Life (Vanitas) (c. 1637) uses an array of fascinating objects, richly rendered, to warn its viewers of the impermanence of the senses and life. All the Tanenbaum gifts offer AGO visitors a window into the dynamic and exciting history of early modern Europe. Come explore this unique collection and share Joey and Toby Tanenbaum's passion for the richness and beauty of European art.