Published by the Hong Kong Palace Museum in a bilingual edition (Traditional Chinese and English), The Forbidden City and The Palace of Versailles: China-France Cultural Encounters in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries exhibition publication features essays by curators from the Palace Museum, the Palace of Versailles, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, delving into the cultural exchange and integration across the two states and their respective courts during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. From the nearly 150 artefacts featured in this exhibition, 24 meticulously curated objects have been selected for an in-depth introduction that explores the rich and multifaceted history of Sino-French cultural exchanges in science, artisanship, arts, culture, and philosophy during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It offers new insights into the expansion of skills, knowledge, and art forms, highlighting a splendid chapter in the history of cultural exchange between China and France among world civilisations.
The exhibition is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the Palace Museum, and the Palace of Versailles. The exhibits mainly come from the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles. The Hong Kong Maritime Museum and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library have also provided a number of loans. The exhibition is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. * Cathay is the Lead Sponsor, and Tigillus Foundation and Centurion from American Express are the Major Sponsors of this special exhibition. The special exhibition, “The Forbidden City and The Palace of Versailles: China-France Cultural Encounters in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries”, runs at Gallery 9 of the Hong Kong Palace Museum from 18 December 2024 to 4 May 2025.
* The content of this programme does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Published by the Hong Kong Palace Museum
Edited by: Wenxin Wang
With contributions from Guo Fuxiang, Marie-Laure de Rochebrune, Wenxin Wang, Phoebe Yiu Yin, Mia Ye Ma
ISBN: 978-988-70436-3-8
Publisher: Hong Kong Palace Museum
Publishing date: 12-2024
Retail price: HK$118
