‘Pharaoh’ exhibition opens at NGV marking 20th anniversary of Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series

The National Gallery of Victoria has this week opened ‘Pharaoh’ – the largest ancient Egyptian exhibition to be held in Australia and which marks the 20th anniversary of the blockbuster Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series.

Pharaoh is supported by Visit Victoria through the State Government’s Major Events Fund as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. Over the past two decades, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibitions have attracted more than seven million local, interstate and international visitors, generating an economic impact of $690 million.

Exclusive to Melbourne, ‘Pharaoh’ takes visitors on a journey through 3000 years of ancient Egyptian art, design and culture, including monumental sculptures, tomb and temple architecture, intricately decorated coffins and funerary objects, and exquisite jewellery.

The exhibition highlights the art and artistry of ancient Egypt and give audiences a close up of the artistic skill behind ancient Egyptian sculptors, painters and craftspeople – whose lives were largely spent working in service of the Pharaoh.

With more than 500 works on loan from the British Museum, Pharaoh will be the largest international exhibition the British Museum has ever presented in its 270-year history. It is also the largest ancient Egyptian exhibition ever to arrive in Australia.

This winter, there is also a free exhibition for children and families as well as a new season of NGV Friday Nights, which will attract even more visitors to this world-class exhibition.

NGV Director Tony Ellwood advised “Pharaoh seeks to introduce a new generation of visitors to the fascinating visual culture of ancient Egypt through an unprecedented exhibition of sculpture, architecture, jewellery and more from the British Museum in London.”

Pharaoh will run until 6th October 2024 at NGV International.

Visit www.ngv.vic.gov.au for more information.