BENDIGO Art Gallery's newest exhibition was opened to the public at the weekend.
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Genius and Ambition: The Royal Academy of Arts London 1786-1918 features a collection of about 100 works from The Royal Academy of Arts.
It showcases works from renowned artists including, J.M. W. Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, John Singer Sargent, Henry Fuseli, John Everett Millais, John William Waterhouse and Sir Joshua Reynolds.
To complement the work from the Royal Academy, 30 pieces by significant Australian artists, including Nicholas Chevalier, Tom Roberts, John Longstaff, Rupert Bunny, Arthur Streeton, E Phillips Fox and Margaret Preston, are on display.
City of Greater Bendigo mayor Barry Lyons got a sneak peek of the collection and said he was impressed by the quality of the works.
"It is amazing," he said.
"You won't see this anywhere else."
Graeme Dernelley travelled from Melbourne with his family to be one of the first to see the exhibition.
Mr Dernelley said he thought the collection was beautiful.
He said he was pleased he was able to use a camera to take photos of the works.
"It was really good," he said.
"Some of the paintings were really beautiful.
"It is a very renowned collection."
Mr Dernelley said there was one slight downside to the exhibition.
"Because I have reading glasses I found it really difficult to read the text," he said.
"I would suggest they move them to eye level."
Mr Dernelley's daughter Anne Dernelley said the collection was very interesting.
Bendigo resident and art student Debra Chandler said she would consider seeing the exhibition for a second time.
"It was pretty awesome," she said.
"But I am an art student so I may be a bit biased."
Ms Chandler said Bendigo was lucky to have the renowned collection featured at its art gallery.
"You wouldn't see works like this anywhere outside of Melbourne," she said.
"It is very special."
The exhibition is open until June 9.