Melbourne Winter Masterpieces 2015

From rock ‘n’ roll royalty to the Golden Age of Russian nobility, Melbourne’s acclaimed Winter Masterpieces series celebrates cultural icons from across the ages this season.

At National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) International, Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great brings more than 400 works from the personal collection of Russia’s greatest female ruler – and renowned artistic visionary – to Melbourne from July 31 to November 8, 2015.

The stunning collection from one of the world’s oldest and most revered museums, founded by Catherine during her 34-year reign, includes paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and Van Dyck as well as exquisite decorative arts such as a 60-piece Sèvres dinner service.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the life of the imperial capital St Petersburg through the interactive exhibition design, which has been inspired by the Hermitage’s lush and opulent interiors.

A short stroll from the NGV, visitors can delve into the world of a modern-day cultural phenomenon at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image’s David Bowie is exhibition, running from July 16 to November 1, 2015.

The acclaimed exhibition from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum celebrates the extraordinary career of one of the most influential artists and performers of the modern era.

With unprecedented access to the David Bowie archive of costumes, objects, artwork and memorabilia, the exhibition includes lyric sheets, hundreds of photographs, stage sets, rare videos, filmed live shows, dozens of costumes and interviews with key collaborators.

Both 2015 Winter Masterpieces exhibitions are exclusive to Melbourne and offer a rare glimpse into the innovative lives of two cultural ‘greats’.