Vincent Van Gogh exhibition draws record crowds to Australian gallery

A record number of people have flocked to a Vincent Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) as of Wednesday.

More than 21,000 people have visited the exhibition, titled Van Gogh and the Seasons, in its first five days.

The queue to get into the exhibit on Tuesday morning was three people wide and extended into the NGV's Great Hall.

Nearly 50 of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings are on display, making it the biggest exhibition of works by the Dutch master ever shown in Australia.

"We have been overwhelmed by the positive response and incredible attendances in the opening days. We are delighted visitors to the NGV are embracing this landmark exhibition," Tony Ellwood, director of the NGV, told News Limited on Wednesday.

More than 17,000 attendees bought pre-sale tickets for the exhibition, also a record, and the crowd on the opening night was one of the biggest ever at the gallery.

"It's great to see Victorians enthusiastically embracing this world premiere exhibition," Martin Foley, Victoria's Minister for Creative Industries, said.

Ellwood urged Victorians to see the exhibition early as it only runs until July 9.

The gallery is offering guided tours of the exhibition in Mandarin as well as English in order to attract as many Chinese tourists as possible. Endit