Some of the world's most significant old master paintings are on display at the Art Gallery of NSW - with many works appearing in Australia for the first time.
From Titian's Venus rising from the Sea or a classic by Boticelli, Michael Clarke the director of the Scottish National Gallery said in a busy world the collection encouraged us to simply stand still.
"Where as so much flits across in the world of social media, film, TV, in front our eyes in a matter of instants, these are things you can stand infront of for 15 to 20 minutes and really analyse and think about," he said.
The exhibition brings together more than 70 of the paintings and drawings from a collection held by the National Galleries of Scotland.
With the exception of two paintings, it's the first time most of these works have been exhibited in Australia.
Jean-Antoine Watteau Fetes Venitiennes (Venetian pleasures). Source: Supplied
The work covers a period of 400 years from the Renaissance to Impressionism and the biggest names in Western art from Rembrandt to Monet to some of the greats of Scottish art, which has a special section dedicated to it.
The room replicates the Scottish National Gallery's interior where octagonal rooms and sumptuous red fabric line the walls.
Ms Clarke said it was a tradition replicated in many European countries.
"For centuries it's been a traditional colour for displaying old master paintings," he said.
"From the Piazza De Pitti in Florence or somewhere like that. It's a colour that works very well for old masters."
As for what the old European masters offer contemporary Australia Michael Brand, the director of the Art Gallery of NSW, said some things never get old.
"Every few years someone says painting is dead," he said.
"Painting is an extrordinary artfrom, it's magical, and this exhibition - the cool brushstrokes of Boticelli, to Titian right through Monet - [has] just superb examples of great painting."
The exhibition opens on Saturday and runs until February, 2016. Tours are available in Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese well a special lecture in Spanish.
