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The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is pleased to announce the arrival of 52 masterpieces from the National Gallery, London that will be on display at the upcoming special exhibition “Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London” to be opened on 22 November 2023. The HKPM and the National Gallery, London teams have been working closely together to perform condition checks and install the newly arrived paintings in Gallery 9 of the Museum.
The first eight precious paintings unveiled at the Museum today are: Long Grass with Butterflies (1890) by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), as well as masterpieces in the exhibition’s “Sacred Images” section– Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius (about 1500) by Sandro Botticelli (about 1445–1510); The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist (“The Garvagh Madonna”, about 1510–1511) by Raphael (1483–1520); The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Four Angels (about 1506–1509) by Quinten Massys (1465 or 1466–1530); The Virgin in Prayer (1640–1650) by Sassoferrato (1609–1685); Saint Mary Magdalene (1634–1635) by Guido Reni (1575–1642); Virgin and Child (probably 1480–1490) by Giovanni Bellini (about 1435–1516); and Saint Jerome in His Study (about 1475) by Antonello da Messina (active 1456; died 1479).
The exhibition is co-organised by the HKPM and the National Gallery, London, with AIA Hong Kong & Macau as the Lead Sponsor and Centurion from American Express as the Major Sponsor. This exhibition is one of the events receiving funding support from the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund (Mega ACE Fund), a fund newly launched by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government in 2023 to support international and large-scale arts and cultural events in Hong Kong.
The HKPM is the first cultural institution in Hong Kong to partner with the National Gallery, London; and the special exhibition will be the first time the Gallery’s prestigious painting collection are showcased in Hong Kong. The exhibition in Hong Kong follows successful runs at the Shanghai Museum and the National Museum of Korea earlier this year. Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, London, will make his inaugural visit to Hong Kong to officiate at the opening ceremony for the new exhibition on 21 November 2023. As part of the learning programme accompanying this exhibition, Dr Finaldi will give a public talk on the Gallery's collection titled “Nearly 200 Years Old: The National Gallery, ‘A Collection for the Use of the Public’” on 23 November (Thursday) at 4pm at the HKPM. Please refer to the Museum’s website for more details.
The 52 masterpieces on display in the exhibition are in essence a “National Gallery in miniature” and HKPM will adopt a unique curatorial approach to highlight the essence of this exquisite collection. The exhibition will offer audiences a concise history of Western European art as uniquely told by the Gallery’s collection. These masterpieces, painted over the course of more than four centuries, from 15th to the early 20th centuries, represent the significant turning points in the history of Western art, from Renaissance to impressionism and post-impressionism. Works by some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya, Turner, Constable, Monet, and Van Gogh, will be on view.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 22 November 2023 to 11 April 2024. Tickets for this special exhibition, priced at HK$150 for adults and HK$75 for visitors eligible for concessions*, include access to thematic exhibitions in Galleries 1 to 7.
The HKPM’s special exhibition “Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan" is on display in Gallery 8 until 8 January 2024. A special combo ticket, priced at HK$240 for adults and HK$120 for visitors eligible for concessions*, will be available to visitors who wish to visit both special exhibitions—“Gazing at Sanxingdui” in Gallery 8 and “Masterpieces from the National Gallery” in Gallery 9 on the same day, in addition to all thematic exhibitions ( featuring treasures from the Palace Museum and other collections) in Galleries 1 to 7. Please refer to the Museum’s website for more information.
*Concessions are available to children aged 7 to 11, full-time students, seniors aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities (with one companion), and CSSA recipients.
Remarks
About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to be a leading cultural institution committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue among world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust made a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment. It is also funded by some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023–2031.
Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum offers a Hong Kong perspective and a global vision, presenting the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum will build international partnerships and help position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the community of Hong Kong, the Museum will inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
https://www.hkpm.org.hk/
About The National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Founded by Parliament in 1824, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th century. The collection includes works by Artemisia Gentileschi, Bellini, Cézanne, Degas, Leonardo, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Titian, Turner, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Velázquez. The Gallery’s key objectives are to care for and enhance the collection and provide the best possible access to visitors. Admission is free. More at https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
About Mega Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) Fund
Mega ACE Fund targets mega arts and cultural events in Hong Kong, those organised by the private sector or non-governmental organisations, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an arts and cultural metropolis, providing opportunities for the arts and cultural sector to flourish, and fostering Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/
*The special exhibition “Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London” is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The content of this programme does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to this programme only, but does not otherwise take part in it. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the materials/activities (or by members of the GRANTEE’s team) are those of the organisers of this programme only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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