Forbidden City Takes Over Louvre

Paris - The treasures of the Forbidden City are the subject of a major exhibition, as the Louvre presents a selection of one hundred and thirty works in three distinct areas. This presentation allows any art collector of Art Kabinett network to trace the simultaneous ascendency of imperial France and China. This show is possible because of close on-going cultural cooperation between the two countries. The evolution of the Forbidden City is shown in a chronological order built around the great emperors who ruled China from the mid-thirteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century -- coinciding with the rise of France on the European continent. One hundred and thirty major works on loan from China - paintings, vases, cuts, lacquers, ceremonial costumes, military uniforms or calligraphy - are put into perspective with the emblematic figures of Chinese imperial history. In the halls of history of the Louvre, the exhibition shows the succession of rulers of China and, for each period, the exchanges that have existed between France and China. In the medieval moat of the Louvre, a model of the Forbidden City captures the magnitude of the palace arose from nothing to the will of one man, Emperor Yongle (1403-1424), while a video montage evokes images of the history of architecture. Are also presented in the Richelieu wing the throne room of Emperor Qianlong (Louis XV and Louis XVI) and the masterpieces he did run silk painting, especially the life-size portraits of his horses. This exhibition was organized by the Louvre Museum and the Museum of the Imperial Palace, with the scientific support of the National Museum of Asian Art Guimet. This exhibition is sponsored primary Schneider Electric , the support of Louis Vuitton and the generous support of Haier, Gide Loyrette Nouel, and Air China. The catalog was produced with the support of Fosun Group in media partnership with France Info, Le Figaro and Metro. The Musée du Louvre has dominated central Paris since the late 12th century -- 200 years before the inception of Yongle's Forbidden City. Originally built for Philip II of France as an arsenal in 1190, it has served as a royal residence and government offices, but has included a museum since it first opened its doors to the public on August 10, 1793 -- after the Revolution. The demolition of the Tuileries in 1882 marked the birth of the modern Louvre. The palace ceased to be the seat of power and was devoted almost entirely to artworks and culture. Slowly but surely, the museum began to take over the whole of the vast complex of palace buildings. Throughout the twentieth century, the Louvre continued to expand and improve, the French Maritime Museum moved out in 1919, post 1848 artworks moved to the Pompidou Center (modern and contemporary art) and the Musée d’Orsay (impressionist and post-impressionist works) as these opened in 1977 and 1986 respectively, leaving the Louvre to specialize in pre-1848 artworks. In 1983, French President François Mitterrand proposed the “Grand Louvre” plan to renovate the building and relocate the Finance Ministry, allowing displays throughout the building. Renowned architect, I. M. Pei was awarded the project and proposed a glass pyramid to stand over a new entrance in the main court, the Cour Napoléon. The pyramid and its underground lobby were inaugurated on 15 October 1988. The second phase of the Grand Louvre plan, La Pyramide Inversée (The Inverted Pyramid), was completed in 1993. As of 2002, attendance had doubled since completion. The Musée du Louvre contains more than 380,000 objects and displays 37,000 works of art in eight curatorial departments with more than 60,600 square metres (652,000 sq ft) dedicated to the permanent collection. The Louvre exhibits sculptures, objets d'art, paintings, drawings, and archaeological finds. It is the world's most visited museum, averaging more than 8 million visitors per year. On exhibition at the Louvre until 9th of January, 2012.