Louvre Abu Dhabi exhibition 'Birth of a Museum' to open at Saadiyat Island

The Louvre Abu Dhabi will open its next exhibition on 22 April at Saadiyat Island showcasing important works of art from the Louvre Abu Dhabi permanent collection, some of which have never been seen.

Running until 20 July, almost 130 art works will be shown in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Cultural District's art and exhibition centre, and will give visitors insight into the museum's narrative and collection ahead of its opening in 2015.

Art works include one of the finest examples of a standing Bactrian Princess from the end of the 3rd millennium BCE, a Middle-Eastern gold bracelet with a lion's head approximately 3000 years-old, a painting titled The Good Samaritan by Jacob Jordaens one of the major Flemish painter from the 17th century and a painting by Oman Hemdy Bey from the 1878, titled The Scholar.

Also on show will be a selection of the James Ivory miniature collection includes fine examples of the chivalry ideals of the Rajputs schools depicted and an evolving dialogue between East and West culminates at the end of the exhibition in a cycle of nine canvases by contemporary artist Cy Twombly

Commenting on the latest milestone for the Saadiyat Cultural District, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said: "The aim of this exhibition is to evoke the Louvre Abu Dhabi's ambiance and aesthetics, and to begin to tell the story of the birth of this museum. The whole exhibition experience is another chance for visitors from the United Arab Emirates and abroad, to see the remarkable art works in the Louvre Abu Dhabi's permanent collection as we prepare for the museum's opening.