The world is full of romance
Art never ends
Friends, the most Versailles exhibition
Here it comes!!!
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France
Jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles
"The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles
-- Sino-French Exchanges in the 17th and 18th Centuries".
It is on display in the exhibition hall of the Wenhua Hall of the Palace Museum
This big show is really "Versailles"
It's a feast for the eyes
Don't miss it!
When the Forbidden City of China meets the Palace of Versailles in France
A brilliant dialogue between Chinese and Western civilizations has begun
China and France are important representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations. Moreover, the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France, have historically been the national administrative center, the place of court life, and the place where culture and art gather, leading the trend of the times in their respective countries.
Although these two countries are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, they have made continuous attempts to understand each other and the practice of cultural exchanges in history, which has achieved a good story of exchanges and mutual learning in the history of the development of world civilization. To this day, this kind of interaction and exchange still lingers and exudes a charming charm.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
In particular, the second half of the 17th century to the 18th century was a golden age of exchanges and cultural exchanges between the Chinese and French courts, during which the French royal family and its court developed a strong interest in Chinese culture. This exhibition is to lead everyone to "travel through the time and space tunnel" and return to that glorious era.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
Through three sections: "The Encounter between the Dragon and the Lily", "The French Landscape in the Forbidden City", and "The Chinese Fashion at the Palace of Versailles", the exhibition traces the historical traces of the interaction between China and France from the second half of the 17th century to the 18th century.
The exhibition brings together about 200 cultural relics, most of which are genuine cultural relics, and together present the cultural exchange between China and France, which is a super rare gathering.
(Source: Palace Museum ID: weigugong)
Next, let's take a look at the highlights of this exhibition~
PART.1
The encounter between the dragon and the lily
The dragon is a unique cultural creation and spiritual symbol of the Chinese, the lily is the symbol of the French royal family, and the encounter between the dragon and the lily originated in 1688.
In this year, the king's mathematician sent by King Louis XIV of France arrived in Beijing and was received by the Kangxi Emperor, officially opening political and cultural exchanges between China and France.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
It begins with a letter from Louis XIV, King of France at that time, to Emperor Kangxi, and the Sino-French romance also began with this handwritten letter.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
Unexpectedly, Kangxi and Louis XIV turned out to be "pen pals", and there were many words of praise in the letter, which also revealed a message that the exchanges between the two countries were originally in the name of scientific exchanges.
Then from Louis XIV to Louis XV and XVI, from Kangxi to Yongzheng and Qianlong, the three generations looked at each other, continuing the unexpected "dream linkage".
（央视新闻ID：cctvnewscenter）
The following bronze gold-plated case Kaiguang figure pocket watch from the Palace Museum should be one of the "popular" exhibits in this exhibition. This pocket watch is most likely a gift from Louis XIV to the Kangxi Emperor.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
The dial features a golden lily that symbolizes the French royal family, and a Chinese five-clawed dragon that symbolizes the emperor of China in the movement.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
Next to it, this partially gilded silver pot is a relic from the collection of the National Museums of Versailles and Trianon. This Chinese coffee pot is decorated with gilded high-relief figures, birds, animals, flowers and pagodas, and is the only gold and silver vessel gifted to Louis XIV by the King of Siam that has survived to this day.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
Wearing a wig, dress, and a silk scarf, have you ever seen such a "Shiro"? This portrait of Emperor Yongzheng was actually influenced by the popular "masquerade ball" in Europe at that time, and I don't know if the fourth master is considered the "originator" of the cosplay industry.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
PART.2
French landscape in the Forbidden City
In the 17th and 18th centuries, during the large-scale contact and exchange between Chinese and Western cultures, the Forbidden City collected a very rich collection of French objects. France had an important influence on the Qing court in many fields such as science, art, architecture, medicine, and cartography, and the Forbidden City also housed many treasures of these types.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
With the deepening of Sino-French exchanges, the Qing court even began to customize exclusive items to France. These objects show the Western art techniques of the French court.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
PART.3
Chinese fashion at the Palace of Versailles
At that time, a large number of Chinese handicrafts and books also began to enter the collection vision of the French court and aristocracy, and the fashion trend of "Chinese style" gradually spread throughout Europe, and many members of the French royal family and dignitaries became collectors of Chinese art.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
Not only that, but France also decorates and transforms these items imported from China to better incorporate their own aesthetic needs.
Items imported from China or borrowed from the Oriental style are regarded as elegant decorations, showing the unique Oriental style of "haute couture" fashion. Here, the audience can enjoy these artworks up close and feel the collision and integration of Chinese and Western cultures.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace Museum)
Thousands of miles away, not far away
The light of civilization reflects each other
It's time to come to the Forbidden City "Versailles".
Go to the scene to feel the shock of Chinese and French art
More exciting exhibitions are waiting for you to unlock
Newsletter:
Exhibition time: from now until June 30
Exhibition Venue: Exhibition Hall of the Wenhua Hall of the Palace Museum
Appointment method: This exhibition can be visited for free with the ticket of the Palace Museum, but an appointment is required. Visitors can purchase tickets and book exhibitions through the "Palace Museum" mini program.
The editor has something to say: pay attention to the WeChat public account of [Favorite Beijing], and reply to [Forbidden City] in the chat dialog box to get the official reservation and ticket purchase entrance
Palace Museum Ticketing Policy
Ticket price: 60 yuan (peak season)
(1) Chinese citizens under the age of 18 (including residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and foreigners with permanent residency) are free of charge, but reservations are required. Minors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult when entering the hospital, and one adult can bring up to 3 minors under the age of 14.
(2) Students over the age of 18 with a bachelor's degree or below (excluding adult education) can purchase student tickets, which are 20 yuan/person in off-peak seasons. Valid identification such as student ID and school referral letter must be presented at the time of ticket check-in.
(3) Seniors over the age of 60 (including 60 years old) can get a half-price discount on tickets with their original valid ID cards. That is, 30 yuan/person in peak season; 20 yuan/person in off-season.
(4) Retired cadres can visit for free with their retirement certificates.
(5) Holders of the city's social security fund receipt certificate, with the original relevant valid certificates, the ticket is half price.
(6) Disabled persons can visit for free with their disability certificates. Companions are not eligible for the discount and must make an appointment.
Address of the Forbidden City: No. 4, Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District
Transportation: Take Metro Line 1 Batong Line and get off at Tiananmen East Station; Take bus No. 1, No. 52 and get off at Tiananmen East Station
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Further reading:
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is one of the famous palaces in Paris, France, and one of the five largest palaces in the world.
It was built in the 16th century. At the end of the 17th century, it was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded, and by the 18th century, it had formed its current scale. It includes three parts: the large garden in front of the palace, the palace and the radial avenue, with a total area of 1.11 million square meters. Among them, the palace building covers an area of 110,000 square meters, and the garden area is 1 million square meters.
(Source: Picture Worm Creative)
The architecture of the Palace of Versailles is in the classical style, symmetrical on the left and right, and the shape is neat, solemn and majestic, and is known as the representative of rational beauty. The interior is predominantly baroque and partly rococo.
(Source: Picture Worm Creative)
The Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles is regarded as one of the "treasures" of the palace of Louis XIV in France, and is the most luxurious and splendid part of the Palace of Versailles. In addition, the collection of Versailles also exudes luxury and extravagance.
(Source: Weibo @ Palace of Versailles)
Some of the pictures in this article are from the official blog of the Palace Museum, WeChat public account, the official blog of the Palace of Versailles, CCTV news, etc.