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vernissage

American  
[ver-nuh-sahzh, ver-nee-sazh] / ˌvɛr nəˈsɑʒ, vɛr niˈsaʒ /

noun

  • vernissages
    plural
  1. Also called varnishing day. the day before the opening of an art exhibition traditionally reserved for the artist to varnish the paintings.

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


vernissage British  
/ ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ /

noun

  1. a preview or the opening or first day of an exhibition of paintings

  2. another term for varnishing day

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of vernissage

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

ArkDes, Stockholm will be broadcasting a virtual vernissage of Weird Sensation Feels Good on 7 April at 16.00 BST.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 31, 2020

Frieze holds a vernissage for collectors and V.I.P.’s.

From New York Times ● May 8, 2013

The vernissage, in truth, usually seems the point of the thing, rather than the three succeeding months when the humble paying punters can see the exhibition for themselves.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 4, 2010

Consider the middle-income Manhattan executive, say, who is invited to attend the weekday-evening vernissage of his favorite nephew, an artist.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ledoyen's has attained a particular celebrity as the restaurant where every one lunches on the vernissage day of the Salon.

From The Gourmet's Guide to Europe by Lieut.-Col. (Nathaniel) Newnham-Davis

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