Free Parisian Pass Thursdays at the MFA

After headbutting its way through the World Cup on Sunday, France seems to be in the spotlight this summer, especially here in Boston. The Museum of Fine Arts is hosting their new Americans in Paris 1860-1900 exhibit, which features painting by James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, and Mary Cassatt. It seems that American painters all flocked to Paris to attend art school, gain a reputation, and eat lots of crepes during this forty year span. They also happened to produce some great art, which will be on display through September 24th; the most well-known pieces in this exhibit are two portraits of ladies with extremely different styles: Sargent’s portrait of Madame X and Whistler’s portrait of his mother.

Starting this Thursday and running the next two Thursdays as well, you can see the exhibit free courtesy of Bank of America. (Sure, they might charge a $35.00 fee for each overdraft offense, but they are opening their corporate hearts and sponsoring these free nights.) From 5p.m. to 8p.m., there will be free tickets (first come, first serve) at the West Wing entrance, which will allow you into the Parisian exhibit as well as the rest of the MFA. They are also showing a film “Paris 1900” in conjunction with the exhibit. (You will most likely have to shell out some extra cash for this flick.)

Since this week is the first Thursday of the promotion, the Massachusetts BOA president himself(!) will be handing out the comped tickets along with some free cake and lemonade. The party kicks off tomorrow at 4p.m.