The gallery is housed in a modern 4,500 sqm² environment friendly building in Leonidou Street, in the centre of Nicosia, and comprises over 800 works, including paintings, drawings, watercolours and objets d’art. In statements to the Cyprus News Agency, the A. G. Leventis Gallery Director Loukia Hadjigavriel says the art gallery projectcost over €20 million, making it the biggest project undertaken in Nicosia in recent years. It is expected to employ 25 to 30 staff. The gallery’s highlights include numerous works by celebrated artists such as El Greco, Canaletto, Boucher, Renoir, Monet, Chagall, Volanakis, Rallis, Moralis, Parthenis, Diamantis and Kissonergis.

The Paris Collection
Hadjigavriel said the Anastasios Leventis’ collection started to take shape when he moved in Paris in 1950 and decided to start a collection of European painters. Τhe 'Paris Collection' includes works of art spanning from the 16th century until mid 20th century, covering a large period of European history of art and presenting various styles from Renaissance to modern art, with the latest paintings by Joan Miro. The collection includes a section of 18th century works, of Baroque and Rococo art. Another section includes impressionists and post impressionists, all chosen by Anastasios Leventis. Mytro Hatzaki is the Curator of the Paris Collection.

The Greek Collection
The second in chronological order collection was bought by Evangelos Averoff Tossizza, in1973, when Anastasios Leventis was in Athens. In the beginning there were about 100 paintings, Hadjigavriel says, adding that the collection was later enriched with works from the 30s, the beginning of 19th century, when Greek painters begin to study Art mainly in Munich, return to Greece and create works inspired by life in Greece while at the same time based on the principles of the art influences of 19th to early 20th century. The Greek Collection has over 260 works of art, spanning from the aftermath of the Greek War of Independence in 1821 to about 1970. Evita Arapoglou is the Curator of the Greek Collection.

The Cyprus Collection
The Cyprus Collection was created after the death of Anastasios Leventis, when the Leventis Foundation decided to further enrich the entire collection with works of art by Cypriots who are considered pioneers of Cypriot art, Hadjigavriel said. The first generation of the 20th century, spanning from Kissonergis, Diamantis, Kanthos and concluding with Christoforos Savva who shook up previous art conceptions in 1960. The works chosen depict scenes from day to day life and that the collection continues to grow. Eleni Nikita is the Curator of the Cyprus Collection. President Nicos Anastasiades and European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou will officially open the Gallery on March 23.

Source: Cyprus Mail