ver·nis·sage

(vĕr′nĭ-säzh′)

A private showing held before the opening of an art exhibition.

[French, varnishing, day before the official opening of an exhibition on which artists would varnish their paintings, vernissage, from vernis, varnish, from Old French; see varnish.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

vernissage

(ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ)

1. (Art Terms) a preview or the opening or first day of an exhibition of paintings

2. (Art Terms) another term for varnishing day

[French, from vernis varnish]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ver•nis•sage

(ˌvɛr nəˈsɑʒ; Fr. vɛr niˈsaʒ)

n., pl. -sages (-ˈsɑ ʒɪz; Fr. -ˈsaʒ)

a reception at a gallery for an artist whose show is about to open to the public.

[1910–15; < French: literally, a varnishing, touching up (of paintings). See varnish, -age]

Mentioned in

private view

References in periodicals archive

Le vernissage a eu lieu mercredi 25 juin dans les locaux de l'institut en presence de l'ambassadeur de la Federation de Russie au Maroc Valerian Shuvaev, des personnalites du monde de l'art et de la culture et les passionnes de la peinture.

Le festival des arts plastiques rend hommage a Pouchkine - ALBAYANE

Obviously meant as a double entendre, Salcedo Auctions recently hosted a vernissage for its latest auction dubbed as "Paradise Found." And found it they did, both in the collection of pieces that were put on the block last Saturday and in their new headquarters at the NEX Tower on Ayala Avenue.

Another Day in Paradise

Sold out were his paintings at the Vernissage of Art Fair Philippines last February showcased by 1335 Mabini Gallery.

'Lady Fishbone' at District Gallery, Dexter Sy at BenCab Museum

The vernissage featured wonderful music, luxurious defile, a buffet table.

Secrets of Zoroastrianism reveled in Germany

Or to be more precise, it is about attending the vernissage of the Philippine pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale in May early this year and learning about how Jose Rizal's thoughts on home and exile became the foundation of the "The Spectre of Comparison" exhibition, its philosophical backbone.

Graffiti Bridge: Pinoys in Italy come together over art at the Venice Biennale

WELL OVER 200 PEOPLE ATTENDED the impressive "vernissage" (private viewing), organized for the students and their parents at the Canadian Archives' gallery.

FACE 2 FACE IN OTTAWA

A winner of seven Fragrance Foundation Awards, Rosen says,"I am so grateful to the Nassau County Museum of Art for this vernissage.As I see it, the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute did this with fashion years ago, and now it is our turn."

Cosmetics & Fragrance Packaging as An Art Form: The Nassau County Museum of Art features an exhibit of work by designer Marc Rosen

Le vernissage de l'exposition [beaucoup moins que] Art-monie a deux tons [beaucoup plus grand que] a eu lieu, samedi dernier au soir, a la galerie [beaucoup moins que] Ezzou'Art [beaucoup plus grand que] du centre commercial de Bab Ezzouar.

Calligraphie et attachement au patrimoine

The Vernissage wine handbags (PS29.99, www.firebox.com) hold about six large glasses of wine.

raise a glass with Jane Clare