Booming crowds at the Cincinnati Art Museum last weekend may make its European Masterpieces exhibit one of the most popular shows there in a decade. More than 2,800 people visited the museum in Eden Park Saturday, and nearly 2,800 showed up Sunday, said Jackie Reau, museum director of marketing and public relations.

        European Masterpieces closes Sunday.

VIRTUAL TOUR

Can't make it to the museum? See it online.

IF YOU GO

Hours have been extended during the last week of Cincinnati Art Museum's European Masterpieces exhibit to accommodate the crowds.   • Today: Closed.   • Tuesday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.   • Wednesday-Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (usually to 5 p.m.).   • Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.   • Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.   Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and college students; free for those under 18 and for Art Museum members.   Information: (513) 721-ARTS.

        About 44,000 people have seen the exhibit during the past 64 days, prompting museum officials to sell tickets for specific times of day and to extend museum hours several days this week.

        European Masterpieces features 88 paintings spanning six centuries from Australia's National Gallery of Victoria. The exhibit rivals the popularity of 1996's Mistress of the House, Mistress of Heaven: Women In Ancient Egypt exhibit, which drew nearly 65,000 during its 76-day run.

        “We could top it,” Ms. Reau said.

        Ronald Van Arsdale of Middletown and his two adult daughters, Lisa Sherman and Jennifer Mabry, toured the museums' other collections while they waited for their 4 p.m. time slot to see European Masterpieces.

        Their last visit was nearly two decades ago: “We're already taking about coming back,” Ms. Sherman said.

        Mary Ratterman and her friends, Barbara Sledd and Reece Glenn, of Winchester, Ky., said they drove about an hour and a half Sunday to see the exhibit and were thrilled de spite the wait.

        “It was great,” Ms. Ratterman said. “I thought this was unique because you really had a chance to track the (art) movements. ... ”

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