Exhibition: In the Flow of Time — Diverse Practices of European Paintings Across Centuries, a Special Exhibition for the 60th Anniversary of China-France Diplomatic Relations 

Organizer: Hunan Art Museum 

Duration: December 14, 2024 - March 9, 2025 

Venue: Hall 5 and Special Hall 1 (2nd Floor), Hunan Art Museum 

Forward 

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations, as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. Eighty-eight works from the collection of Les Franciscaines in Deauville, France are exhibited in Hunan Art Museum, aiming to continuously deepen the cultural and artistic exchanges between China and France. We invite visitors to transcend time and space, witness the evolution of European painting over the centuries, connect with history, and enjoy a vibrant cultural experience. 

European painting continuously progressed along the path of representing reality from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Precise forms, vibrant colors, and changing light and shadow gradually integrated into the space constructed by linear perspective, aiming to recreate the visual and emotional experience of the real world. Throughout centuries of evolution in artistic concepts, techniques, and styles, the art academies played a pivotal role. 

Following the founding of the Florentine Academy (Accademia delle Arti del Disegno) and the Academy of St. Luke (Accademia di San Luca) in Rome in the second half of the 16th century, the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture (Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture) was established in France in 1648 and flourished during the reign of Louis XIV. The Rome Prize (Prix de Rome) was established in 1663, with the French Academy in Rome being founded shortly after, in 1666. These initiatives were designed to offer French artists opportunities for advanced study, enabling them to learn from Italian Renaissance art. Simultaneously, the Academy adopted a classical education system, offering a comprehensive academic curriculum that included painting, sculpture, perspective, anatomy, and art theory. Moreover, the Academy established the Salon exhibition system, which provided artists with an important platform to display their talents and seek patronage. 

The well-established educational framework and talent cultivation system of the French Royal Academy served as a model for many European countries. Over the following centuries, art academies sprang up throughout the continent. It was through the training and practice within the academy that the legacies of masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Rubens were preserved, while new artistic styles such as Rococo and Neoclassicism emerged. Likewise, the artistic movements of Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism that swept through the 19th century carved their own paths through both interaction with and rebellion against the tradition of the Academy. 

This exhibition presents 88 works by 38 artists, many of whom benefited from training in art academies. The works span a range of subjects, including portraits, genre scenes, landscapes, and preparatory sketches- -such as drawings and watercolors- -created for large religious and historical paintings. These works invite us to focus on the fine details, allowing us to appreciate the artists' craftsmanship and ingenuity throughout the entire process of artistic creation. Meanwhile, they reflect the profound influence of the prevailing artistic movements of their time. By examining art from this microcosmic perspective, we aim to convey that art history is not just the story of renowned artists and masterpieces. The entire creative process, is equally captivating and inspiring. 

Hunan Art Museum

Address: No.2 Jinjiang Road, Yuelu District, Changsha 

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00, Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Monday) 

Consultation: +86 0731-82781500 

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.