National Gallery of Canada Appoints Neo-Classical European Art Expert as its
Chief Curator

OTTAWA, Dec. 23 /CNW/ - The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) announced today the appointment of Paul Lang, an expert in neo-classical European Art, as its new Deputy Director and Chief Curator. An accomplished scholar who holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Geneva, Mr. Lang has been Chief Curator at the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève in Switzerland since 2000. He will assume his new role at the NGC on April 1, 2011.

During his tenure at the Musée d'art et d'histoire, Mr. Lang oversaw the acquisition of several important works, most recently Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot's masterpiece La Jeune femme à la fontaine (c. 1860), purchased in June 2010. He organized numerous exhibitions, including the widely praised Richard Wagner, Visions d'artistes. D'Auguste Renoir à Anselm Kiefer, presented at the Musée Rath in Geneva in 2005-06 and at le Musée de la Musique in Paris in 2007-08, as well as Corot en Suisse, presented at the Musée Rath in 2010-11. He was also responsible for a major re-installation of the Musée's permanent collection in 2008. This followed an extensive conservation and restoration programme that he initiated in 2000 to revitalize the collection and for which he secured significant private funding.

A research associate at the Zurich-based Swiss Institute for Art Research from 1985 to 1999, Mr. Lang has authored or co-authored nearly 50 collection catalogues, art historical studies and articles, including several contributions to the Répertoire international de la littérature de l'art / Bibliographie d'histoire de l'art (RILA/BHA) over the course of his career.

"Paul Lang brings to the National Gallery impeccable credentials as an art historian, an almost encyclopedic knowledge of neo-classical European art, a broad interest in material culture in general, a genuine interest in the success of his immediate colleagues and an ardent commitment to serving the public," said NGC Director Marc Mayer. "I have great confidence that our collections and research will thrive under his stewardship."

The 52-year-old Swiss native holds dual French and Swiss citizenship and is fluent in French, English and German. His appointment follows an extensive international search undertaken earlier this fall after the NGC's former Deputy Director and Chief Curator, David Franklin, left the Gallery to become Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève

Comprised of four different sites, the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire constitutes one of the largest museum groups of Switzerland. Conceived with a multidisciplinary approach, the Musées maintain collections in the fields of archaeology, fine arts and applied arts, and bear witness to the history of civilisations from prehistoric to modern times. More than 7,000 objects out of a total of around 1,000,000 are on permanent exhibition, and a programme of temporary exhibitions and rendezvous is offered throughout the year.

About the National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada is home to the most important collections of historical and contemporary Canadian art in the world, including the extensive collection of the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. The Gallery also maintains Canada's premier collection of European Art from the 14th to the 21st century, as well as important works of American, Asian and Indigenous Art and renowned international collections of prints, drawings and photographs. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played a key role in Canadian culture for well over a century. Among its principal missions is to increase access to excellent works of art for all Canadians. To do so, it maintains the largest touring art exhibition programme in the world. For more information, visit gallery.ca.

For further information: Josée-Britanie Mallet, Senior Media and Public Relations Officer, National Gallery of Canada, 613-990-6835, [e-mail]; Claire Schofield, Manager, Communications and Public Relations, National Gallery of Canada, 613-990-7081, [e-mail]