Nepenthe Gallery
September 18, 2025 thru October 16, 2025
This special exhibition features the work of a number of regionally based artists who are officially “Master Copyists” with authorization to copy paintings from the National Gallery of Art’s collection. The exhibition highlights the tradition of artists throughout art history of learning art by copying masterpieces–Degas and Manet famously met while both were making copies at the Louvre!
Join us to hear perspectives on “why we copy” by the Master Copyists themselves. It is our wonderful honor to invite the artists and our community to hear from this talented group.
Located in: Hollin Hall Shopping Center - 7918 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308
https://nepenthegallery.com/events/master-art-copyists/
A few of our talented Master Art Copyists. Lana Portolano, Bob O’Brien, Seana Gallagher, Sonia Gadra, and Amelia Cheuk
DC News interview at the Washington County Fine Arts Museum featuring Seana Gallager painting a copy of Webster Hawthrone’s “Sewing Girl”. Click here for the full interview or find this video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfxZIwqFod8.
Newsletter featuring Gillian Collins painting Robert Henri’s “Michael”. Click here for more information.
A display of some of MAC copies from the NGA at the exhibit in Washington County Fine Arts Museum, Hagerstown, MD
WCFAM personnel and Master Art Copyists participants.
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September 9 - october 6, 2023 mary condon hodgson art gallery, frederick community college
This exhibit is located in the Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery, Visual and Performing Arts Center, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702. Gallery hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. All exhibits and opening receptions are free and open to the public.
MEET THE COPYISTS OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART AT OPENING RECEPTION, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH FROM 5 - 7PM.
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In historic Alexandria, Virginia located at 201 Prince Street
May 20 - June 27, 2021 Athenaeum Gallery, Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association
Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 12 - 4pm. Admission is free. Check periodically on Athenaeum website www.nvfaa.org for future events of artist talk and painting demonstration.
Meet the copyists of the National Gallery of Art at exhibition closing reception, Sunday June 27th from 3 - 5pm.
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Copyists Bruce Campbell, Gillian Collins and Christopher Madden lead an artist talk at the opening reception.
February 1 - March 1, 2020 Delaplaine Arts Center Exhibit
Artist Talk February 1, 2020 2-3pm, opening reception 3-5pm. Delaplaine Arts Center is location at 40 South Carroll Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9 - 5, Sunday 11-5. www.delaplaine.org
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Green Springs Historic House, Fairfax, VA, 1784, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring
Oct 31 - Dec 16, 2018 Green Springs historical manor house exhibit
Master Art Copyists to exhibit at Green Springs Gardens Historical Manor House opening October 31st and runs through December 16th, 2018. Green Springs is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia. Exhibition hours to be determined.
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FEBRUARY 2018 Recognition in Artsy. Net Online Magazine
Vivian Parker painting at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C
Gillian Collins painting at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
How Artists Are Copying Masterpieces at World-Renowned Museums Artsy.net March 18, 2018
An excerpt from the article:
These artists continue a tradition that dates back to 1872, just two years after the storied New York museum was founded. Known as the “copyist program,” the initiative allows skillful artists to set up their easels alongside works of the greats, during public hours, and make their own breathtaking replicas. Similar programs exist at major art museums across the world, like the Louvre in Paris, the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, and the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, D.C., all of which serve to support living, working artists by giving them exceptional access to learning from masterpieces of art history. These prestigious, selective programs, governed by stringent rules, are also fascinating for visitors to experience, and are important extensions of museums’ educational missions.
To read the full article: www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artists-allowed-copy-masterpieces-worlds-prestigious-museums
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January 2018 Washington Arts club
The first exhibit of National Gallery of Art Copyists opened in January 2018 at the Arts Club of Washington. Twenty-three copyists exhibited forty paintings. The opening reception was very well attended in spite of the fact it was one of the coldest nights of winter. We celebrated our participation in the National Gallery of Art Copyists program and the ancient tradition of copying.
