Exhibition Runs Through January 9, 2012#
A portrait of emperor Kangxi projected onto a wall at the Louvre (Image: Xinhua)
This week marks the opening of the sprawling exhibition "The Forbidden City at the Louvre" at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Running through January 9, 2012, the exhibition includes around 130 artifacts from Beijing's Forbidden City, ranging from jade carvings, lacquerware, seals, porcelain and bronzes to personal items previously owned by Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors. This exhibition marks the first time many of these artifacts have left China, and is the first such show ever put on by Louvre -- Since it has no Chinese arts department, organizers modified parts of the museum to accommodate the exhibition. Attendees at this week's grand opening included Frederic Mitterand, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, and Kong Quan, Chinese Ambassador to France.
As Louvre curator, Heri Loyrette remarked at the exhibition's debut, "The Forbidden City at the Louvre" is the first joint exhibition so closely coordinated by France and China, and will hopefully encourage the development of more artistic exchanges between the two countries. Loyrette noted that the exhibition is a perfect fit for the museum, as it reflects the commonalities between the Forbidden City and the Louvre -- both of which were home to emperors and kings before becoming vast museums.
"The Forbidden City at the Louvre"#
September 26, 2011 - January 9, 2012
Musée du Louvre
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Website
A visitor walks past a painting of emperor Qianlong at the exhibition
The more than 100 items on display include clothing, arms and lacquerware
The exhibition includes dozens of centuries-old jade carvings