Thousands of art lovers are expected to flock from across the country to gaze upon the final works of master impressionist Frederick McCubbin.

Among those in attendance last night were McCubbin’s great great grandchildren, Jasper and Ruby.

The Victorian Minister for the Arts, Peter Batchelor, who launched the exhibition, said the gallery was becoming a key cultural drawcard for the region, attracting almost 160,000 visitors last financial year.

“Bendigo Art Gallery has staged a major coup in securing this exhibition, which opened at the National Gallery of Australia last year,” Mr Batchelor said.

The gallery is the only one in Victoria to display McCubbin’s final paintings and one of only three sites around the country to host the exhibition.

“This is a testament to Bendigo’s reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting regional galleries,” Mr Batchelor said.

Last Impressions is the first comprehensive presentation of McCubbin’s works in nearly 20 years and the first to focus on his later works, which were influenced by European masters, JMW Turner and Claude Monet.

National Gallery of Canberra director Ron Radford also attended the gallery and praised the exhibition.

“The space is perfect and the colour and layout are exactly as it would have been first exhibited - it’s wonderful,” Mr Radford said.

The exhibition features 72 paintings, including pieces from all the major galleries in Australia and 25 rare works on loan from private collectors.

Mr Batchelor said McCubbin was the first major painter to come out of Melbourne.

McCubbin went on to create some of the most iconic images of Australia’s Federation period.

McCubbin: Last Impressions 1907-1917 is at the Bendigo Art Gallery until July 25.

For more information visit www.bendigoartgallery.com.au