French Impressionist exhibition creating excitement in Atlanta

ATLANTA - An upcoming exhibition of French Impressionist works from a Paris museum is creating excitement not only at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta but in the city&#39;s tourism industry as well. <br> <br> The exhibit, ``Paris in the Age of Impressionism: Masterworks from The Musee d&#39;Orsay&#39;&#39; opens to the public on November 23rd. <br> <br> The Paris museum is the second-largest in France and is known for its collection from the late 19th century when the Impressionists were active. It will send about 100 works to Atlanta, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and decorative art. <br> <br> High Museum director Michael Shapiro expects the show to have a much broader impact than giving people a chance to see works by such artists as Monet, Degas and Rodin that rarely are displayed outside Paris. <br> <br> The exhibition, he said at a news conference today, quote: ``is going to take us well beyond the walls of the museum and provide an invitation and an opportunity to Atlantans and visitors to sample the best that the city has to offer.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau President Spurgeon Richardson says he expects the show to attract more than 200,000 patrons during its four-month run.