11 April 2016

vernissage

[ver-nuh-sahzh; French ver-nee-sazh]

noun, plural vernissages [ver-nuh-sah-zhiz; French ver-nee-sazh]

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.

Origin of vernissage

1910-1915; < French: literally, a varnishing, touching up (of paintings). See varnish, -age

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for vernissage

Historical Examples

We had not heard of his arrival until we ran across him at the vernissage in the New Salon.
Nights
Elizabeth Robins Pennell

The spring came at last, and with it vernissage at the Salon.
The Beautiful Miss Brooke
Louis Zangwill

By ten o’clock the night of the ” vernissage ” all his acquaintances and intimates in Paris had brought him their felicitations.
Fairfax and His Pride
Marie Van Vorst

You can’t imagine how impatient I was to get back in time for vernissage.
The Beautiful Miss Brooke
Louis Zangwill

Ledoyen’s has attained a particular celebrity as the restaurant where every one lunches on the vernissage day of the Salon.
The Gourmet’s Guide to Europe
Algernon Bastard

Anagram

I graveness
Avenger sis
Greens visa

Today’s quote

I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.

– Eugene Debs

On this day

11 April 1979 – Ugandan President Idi Amin (Dada) is ousted when Tanzanian rebels sieze power. Amin flees to Libya and eventually settles in Saudi Arabia. Amin had been responsible for ethnic cleansing, killing an estimated 80,000 to 300,000 people.

11 April 1981 – Riots in Brixton, South London commence following the arrest of a black man. On a day known as ‘Black Saturday’, up to 5,000 youths confront police and run riot through the streets, looting, throwing petrol bombs, burning hundreds of cars and buildings, and injuring hundreds of people. Police arrested 82 people.