European Masters ëCorot to Picassoí Showcases Nearly 60 Paintings by Renowned Artists by Serena Lei One of the most stunning paintings on display at The Phillips Collectionís new exhibit ìCorot to Picasso: European Masterworks From the Smith College Museum of Artî is Gustave Courbetís ìThe Preparation of the Dead Girl.î The large, six-by-eight-foot painting was originally purchased by Smith College as ìThe Preparation of the Bride,î but the somber setting and lack of evidence that Courbet had anything painted with that title, led researchers to examine the painting using x-radiographs. They discovered that the ìbrideî had originally been painted as a nude with her head down and her left hand limp across her lap. Someone had changed the tilt of her head, painted clothes on her body, and even repositioned her left hand so that it is now raised and holding a mirror. It is an eerie sceneóeven with the overpainted changes, the ìbrideî still looks lifeless and out of place, as the women around her continue to prepare for a funeral. Courbetís painting is part of a new exhibition currently touring the country while the Smith College Museum of Art is being reno vated. The collection includes pieces from CÈzanne, Degas, Gauguin, Kandinsky, Kirchner, Monet, Rodin, Seurat, and, of course, Corot and Picasso, to name only a few. These European masters are culled from 19th- and early 20th-century contributions. The Phillips Collection already contains many pieces by the same artists to compliment the Smith College collection. The Smith College expanded its art collection under the direction of Alfred Vance Churchill, the museumís first art director. The collection is impressive coming from such a small college. The Smith College Museum of Art began by collecting only contemporary American art. Churchill changed that narrow focus with his new ìConcentration Plan.î Churchillís philosophy was to acquire art that focused on ìthe Development of Modern Artî rather than concentrating on one school or nation. Churchill also did not shy away from purchasing unfinished paintings, such as Paul CÈzanneís important work ìA Turn in the Road at La Roche-Guyonî and Courbetís ìThe Preparation of the Dead Girl.î Several Impressionist artists in the Smith College collection match the Phillipsís notable Impressionist collection. In the Smith College exhibit, which includes 60 European masterpieces, landscapes by Claude Monet can be found on display, as well as Edgar Degasís ìDancer on the Stageî and a portrait of his brother, ìRenÈ de Gas.î Post-Impressionist art, such as Vanessa Bellís ìLandscape with Haystack, Asheham,î is also well represented. Three works by Pablo Picasso give a short summary of his careeróìFigures by the Seaî from his Blue Period, ìSeated Nudeî and the Cubist ìTable, Guitar, and Bottle.î Fernand LÈger and Juan Gris, two other Cubist masters, are also included. Louis-LÈopold Boillyís voluptuous painting ìA Young Painter and His Modelî and Anne-Louis Girodet-Triosonís portrait thought to be ìMadame Benoit-FranÁois Triosonî represent a more classical style of painting. The collection also includes a few sculptures, including Auguste Rodinís ìChildren with Lizard,î one of the first European pieces purchased under Churchillís direction. Since founder Duncan Phillips converted his home into a gallery space in 1921, the Phillips has provided an alternative, personal setting as an art museum, and this space is an ideal and intimate setting for the Smith College exhibit. ìCorot to Picasso: European Masterworks from the Smith College Museum of Artî runs through May 12 at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St., NW. For more information, please call (202) 387-2151 or visit www.phillipscollection.org. Serena Lei is an arts writer for The Washington Diplomat.