The Renaissance, the cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, encompassed a resurgence and flourishment in art, society and politics. Now some of that period's remarkable art works are being showcased in the Art Museum of China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. The exhibits are the prominent part of the Louvre Museum's Renaissance collection.
121 sketches, prints and sculptures created between the 15th and 16th century are on display. They include portraits, drafts, graphics, lambskin illustrations, architectural layouts, and pattern designs.
Some of the exhibits are on their first outing from the Louvre. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, the polymaths of the Renaissance, also have pieces in this collection.
All the exhibits were once the collection of Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild, who donated them all to the Louvre. A French member of the Rothschild banking family, he took little active part in business, but rather pursued artistic and philanthropic interests. Over time, he acquired an important collection of drawings and engravings that he later bequeathed to the Louvre consisting of more than 40,000 engravings, nearly 3000 drawings, and 500 illustrated books.
It is the first ever collaboration between the Louvre and China Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Catherine Loisel, Chief Curator of Department of Drawings & Prints, Louvre Museum, said, "Recently we have carried out a study over the Renaissance period collections in the Louvre, so we're very delighted to present this exhibition in China. Also these works are on their first appearances in Asia. As you can see, the lighting in the exhibition hall is rather low because the art works are 5 or 6 hundred years old and cannot be preserved under high illumination."
Loisel also remarks that the Louvre is planning bigger projects in China, and hopes to bring more inspirational and representative art pieces.
The exhibition will run until the end of next January.