GDF SUEZ, patron of the exhibition

As one of the Jacquemart-André Museum’s major patrons, GDF SUEZ is very pleased and proud to support Canaletto – Guardi, the Two Masters of Venice. This is one of the first major exhibitions of veduta to be held in France. It features a number of exceptional works loaned by leading American and European institutions, including London’s National Gallery, the British Royal Collections, the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid and the Paris Louvre.

Our role as sponsor means that we can help a wide-reaching project such as this to come to fruition. The aim is to make culture as accessible as possible while also promoting our cultural heritage, actions that express our commitment to social responsibility. Every year, GDF SUEZ celebrates Christmas with not-for-profit organisations, enabling many young people to enjoy a major exhibition.

There are many areas in which the business and art worlds can work together; I’m thinking in particular of shared expertise and locations.

In 2011, we were pleased to be able to offer an innovative skills sponsorship programme. The Energy Services branch at GDF SUEZ renovated the air conditioning systems for the museum’s exhibition spaces. This meant that its premises offered the best conditions for conserving and exhibiting works of art, and allowed us to harness our expertise in the service of fine art.

In Europe, Italy is a key country for GDF SUEZ. Through our Cofely subsidiary, we are the number one energy services company in Italy and the third largest supplier of electricity and natural gas, with over 1.2 million clients. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is another strong presence in Italy, with over 2.74 million people using its environmental services.

Working together, sharing new perspectives

Canaletto “universally stuns”: so wrote his contemporary Marchesini. He was one of those artists who looked at the city with new eyes, offering a vision with new depth, full of perspective. What he applied to the cityscape was the same magic as that conjured up by the spectacular paintings created for the theatre and its scenery: illusion created through perspective, sightlines cleverly aligned, persuading viewers that they are seeing palaces, streets, gardens and canals peopled with real characters; the world as theatre. His vision, with its matchless luminosity, devised a whole grammar of forms.

Looking anew at the city is our challenge today as we go about our business in the energy and environmental services sectors. GDF SUEZ provides solutions for the modern city, solutions that promote sustainability. This is the proudest accomplishment of our 220,000 colleagues around the world.

 GÉRARD MESTRALLET
GDF SUEZ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer