'Extraordinary' Painting Arrives At National WWI Museum And Memorial

One of the world's largest war-related paintings, Gassed by John Singer Sargent, is tentatively scheduled to arrive at the National WWI Museum and Memorial on Monday, Jan. 29 at approximately 6 p.m. Upon arrival in a crate weighing more than 2,000 pounds, a large crew will unload the massive painting and store it in the Museum and Memorial's new Wylie Gallery. The painting will remain in the crate until Wednesday, Jan. 31. At approximately 1 p.m., the painting will be placed on a custom-built wall within the Wylie Gallery by a large crew. Media are invited to cover both events from designated areas.

Gassed, which measures a staggering 21-feet long by nine-feet tall, is a landmark painting from famed artist John Singer Sargent depicting a line of British soldiers blinded by exposure to poison gas at a dressing station. The painting is the focal point of the upcoming special exhibition John Singer Sargent Gassed at the Museum and Memorial, which runs from Friday, Feb. 23 - Sunday, June 3.

Considered one of the most important war-related works of the past several centuries, Gassed was hailed as "monumental" by the New York Times, a "masterpiece" by the Daily Mail, "magnificent" by the Telegraph, "epic" by the Associated Press and "extraordinary" by The Guardian. Upon viewing the painting for the first time, Sir Winston Churchill referred to the work as "brilliant genius." Gassed, which is on loan from the Imperial War Museums in the U.K., has been viewed by tens of millions of people since its completion in 1919. Gassed is on exhibition in the U.S. for just the second time and its appearance in Kansas City marks the first occasion it's been on exhibition in the Midwest. Upon completion of its run in Kansas City, the painting will return to the U.K.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America's leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America's official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.

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