vernissage

[ ver-nuh-sahzh; French ver-nee-sazh ]

/ ˌvɛr nəˈsɑʒ; French vɛr niˈsaʒ /

Also called varnishing day. the day before the opening of an art exhibition traditionally reserved for the artist to varnish the paintings.

a reception at a gallery for an artist whose show is about to open to the public.

Origin of vernissage

1910–15; < French: literally, a varnishing, touching up (of paintings). See varnish, -age

By ten o'clock the night of the "Vernissage" all his acquaintances and intimates in Paris had brought him their felicitations.

Fairfax and His Pride |Marie Van Vorst
We had not heard of his arrival until we ran across him at the Vernissage in the New Salon.

Nights |Elizabeth Robins Pennell
Ledoyen's has attained a particular celebrity as the restaurant where every one lunches on the vernissage day of the Salon.

The Gourmet's Guide to Europe |Algernon Bastard
The spring came at last, and with it vernissage at the Salon.

The Beautiful Miss Brooke |Louis Zangwill

You can't imagine how impatient I was to get back in time for vernissage.

The Beautiful Miss Brooke |Louis Zangwill

vernissage

/ (ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ) /

a preview or the opening or first day of an exhibition of paintings

another term for varnishing day

French, from vernis varnish