Tuesday, May 22, 2007, 6-8 PM, Wildenstein & Co., Inc.,,Gallery located at 19 East 64th Street between 5th and Madison Avenue, New York City, New York. The House of Ruinart partnered with Wildenstein & Co., Inc., to host The Young Patrons Circle of the American Friends of the Louvre at the elegant Wildenstein gallery on East 64th St. for a special champagne reception and a private viewing of the exhibition, Claude Monet: A Tribute to Daniel Wildenstein and Katia Granoff. The exhibition features over sixty paintings from public institutions and private collections, some rarely or never seen. The evening, hosted by Kipton Cronkite, Founder of KiptonART, and style icon and beauty entrepreneur Olivia Chantecaille, was attended by Christopher Forbes, Chairman of the American Friends of the Louvre, Priscila Azeredo, Fabiola Beracasa, Charles Bich, Derek Blasberg, Lorenzo Borghese, Adelina Wong Ettelson, Catherine Forbes, Nicole Hanley, Annabel Vartanian and Alexis Zoullas and other notable members of The Young Patrons Circle. The Musée du Louvre welcomes more than 1 million American visitors each year, approaching 20% of the museum’s current record 8.3 million total annual visitors. American Friends of the Louvre (AFL) was founded in 2002 to strengthen ties between the Louvre and its American public and formalize the longstanding generosity of American patrons. AFL raises awareness of the Louvre’s collections and museum expertise and helps make the Louvre’s exhibitions and permanent collection more accessible to all English-speaking visitors. AFL’s new Young Patrons Circle will help advance the mission of American Friends of the Louvre by providing financial support and enhancing AFL’s outreach through special events and scholarly programs. Guests viewed the special exhibition while they sipped Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, which is Ruinart's signature Chardonnay blend champagne; it truly captures the perfect expression of the pure, light and fresh style of Ruinart. Champagne Ruinart has a rich heritage of refined tradition and yet a modern relevancy to those who enjoy drinking it! Stephanie Chassing of Ruinart notes that Ruinart is “the champagne of choice for luminaries in the artistic and philanthropic worlds”. Like the Louvre and Wildenstein, the House of Ruinart has its origins in France, and founded in 1729, is the oldest champagne house in the world. Indeed, this sensibility aligns with Wildenstein’s history. Founded in Paris 130 years ago by Nathan Wildenstein, Wildenstein & Co., Inc. has galleries in New York, London and Tokyo as well as a research institute in Paris. Some of the best known masterpieces now located in museums and art foundations throughout the world have at one time or another passed through the hands of Wildenstein & Co., Inc. The gallery's constantly evolving stock includes significant examples of European and American art spanning different eras. PHOTO CREDIT: ©Manhattan Society.com 2007 by Gregory Partanio with Chris London |tel:718.614.7740 |e-mail: PrinceGregory@manhattansociety.com **Gregory is available for hire for private events***