The masterpieces from China's Forbidden City on display in Rome
have received about 5,000 visitors from its opening day, one of the
exhibit organizers Chiara Perazzoli told Xinhua on Monday.
"Now, the museum received about 5,000 visitors from Italy and
other countries' tourists for the Chinese 18th-century attractive
treasures," Perazzoli, an official of Museum of Corso said.
The exhibition, which opened on November 20, features over 300
items from the Emperor Qianlong's (1711-1799) court, including art,
jewelery and weapons.
While many of the items reflect the general splendor of the
court in the Forbidden City, the majority are linked to the figure
of Qianlong himself, she explained.
These include a decorated table created to celebrate his 80th
birthday, a massive gold throne, and his personal armour.
The exhibit also recreated his private study and spiritual room,
while a number of the artworks are by the emperor himself, a keen
artist, poet, musician and calligrapher.
Other artworks include pieces by the Italian Jesuit missionary
and painter Giuseppe Castiglione, who traveled to China in
1715.
Castiglione remained there until his death 50 years later,
working as a court painter for Qianlong and designing, among other
things, a summer palace for the emperor.
Considered one of the greatest court painters of all time in
China, Castiglione played a key role in teaching local artists
Western techniques relating to color, perspective and human
anatomy.
Qianlong, the fourth emperor in the Qing Dynasty, took over the
throne in 1735 and reigned until 1796, when he officially retired
but continued to run the show behind the scenes.
In addition to his military conquests, Qianlong was a major
patron of the arts, a prolific poet and a collector of
ceramics.
Entitled "Masterpieces from the Forbidden City. Qianlong and his
Court," the exhibit was organized by the Chinese Imperial Palace's
Museum and the Italian Foundation of Rome, Museum of Corso.
The showcase will remain in Rome's "Museo del Corso" (Museum of
Corso) until March 20, 2008, Perazzoli said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2007)