Table of Contents
- 1 Louis XIV, the initiator of relations with the Middle Kingdom
- 2 A Chinese taste that floods France
- 3 A new look at relations between China and France thanks to the rediscovery of art objects
- 4 Commissariat
- 5 Versailles and the Chinese public
- 6 Has this influenced the collaboration between the Palace of Versailles and the Palace Museum?
Louis XIV, the initiator of relations with the Middle Kingdom
The exhibition will highlight the diplomatic policy undertaken by Louis XIV towards the Kangxi Emperor. Indeed, in 1685, French Jesuit fathers were sent to China and joined the court of Beijing as mathematicians to the King. This initiative made it possible to establish relations of trust and mutual respect between the two countries which lasted until the end of the 18th century. This unique diplomatic context and this reciprocal interest played a key role in the emergence of modern Sinology in France.
A Chinese taste that floods France
At the French court, the enthusiasm for China and its art manifested itself through four main phenomena: the importation of Chinese art objects, the transformation of certain imported works – such as the addition of frames in gilded bronze on porcelain or the use of lacquer panels for French furniture -, the imitation of Chinese products, illustrated by the frantic quest for the secret of manufacturing kaolin porcelain, and the marked influence of Chinese art on French art, particularly in the field of decorative arts.
The exhibition highlights the inexhaustible source of inspiration that Chinese art represented for French artists and intellectuals, touching on various fields such as art objects, interior decor, architecture, the art of gardens, painting, music and science. The works brought together in Hong Kong will also illustrate the authentic fascination of the court of Versailles, as well as major French collectors, for all Chinese productions. In addition, the exhibition highlights the real interest of Chinese emperors of the 17th and 18th centuries for French scientific knowledge and know-how.
A new look at relations between China and France thanks to the rediscovery of art objects
In April 2024, an exhibition at the Forbidden City inaugurated, for the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles, the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. This exhibition, which attracted more than 175,000 visitors, will follow a new presentation, as if to close this year of festivities, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum from December 18 where some of the prestigious acquisitions made by Versailles over the last ten years are presented. . The particularity of this exhibition also lies in the linking of works from the Chinese and French collections, offering a dialogue which underlines the reciprocal interest of the two cultures. In addition, the scientific collaboration between the teams at the Palace of Versailles and the Palais Museum has made it possible to rediscover new objects and deepen our knowledge of this ancient history.
Commissariat
Marie-Laure de Rochebrune, General Curator of Heritage, Palace of Versailles
Guo Fuxiang, research fellow, Palace Museum; and Wenxin Wang, Associate Curator, with contributions from Assistant Curators Phoebe Yin and Mia Ma, Hong Kong Palace Museum
Versailles and the Chinese public
The Chinese public constitutes the second foreign nationality most represented among visitors to the Château de Versailles, with a share of 13% in 2019. In order to improve the reception of Chinese visitors whose attendance before Covid was constantly increasing, the château de Versailles has implemented dedicated initiatives. Thus, all the mediation and information tools are translated into Chinese, as is the audio guide which covers the entire visit route. In order to assert its presence in the Chinese digital ecosystem, the Palace of Versailles has been present on Chinese social networks since 2015 and has more than 326,000 subscribers on WeChat, Weibo, Douyin and Bilibili. The castle is also one of the first museums to deploy online and contactless payment methods via WeChat Pay and AliPay since 2019. In China itself, the Virtually Versailles traveling exhibition has already attracted 260,000 visitors to Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau and Hangzhou. Finally, the Palace of Versailles cultivates special relationships with Chinese cultural institutions such as the Forbidden City and the Hong Kong Palace Museum by offering exhibitions organized in close collaboration.
Has this influenced the collaboration between the Palace of Versailles and the Palace Museum?
As the website editor for world-today-news.com, I am pleased to present an exclusive interview with Marie-Laure de Rochebrune, General Curator of Heritage at the Palace of Versailles, and Guo Fuxiang, Research Fellow at the Palace Museum in China. The discussion will revolve around their recent collaboration on an exhibition highlighting the historic relations between France and China through art and culture. We will discuss the key aspects of the exhibition, including the initiation of diplomatic relations by Louis XIV, the influence of Chinese art on French culture, the rediscovery of art objects, and efforts to increase Chinese engagement with the Château de Versailles.
I. Introduction and Overview of the Exhibition
– Marie-Laure, can you tell us about the upcoming exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum focusing on the historical relations between China and France?
– Guo Fuxiang, what is unique about this exhibition and how does it contribute to our understanding of the cultural exchanges between these two countries?
II. The Initiation of Diplomatic Relations
– Marie-Laure, how did Louis XIV’s diplomatic policy towards the Kangxi Emperor impact the development of modern Sinology in France?
– Guo Fuxiang, what was the significance of the French Jesuit fathers being sent to China in 1685?
III. A Chinese Taste That Floods France
– Marie-Laure, how did the fascination with China manifest itself at the French court during this time period?
– Guo Fuxiang, what role did Chinese art play in inspiring French artists and intellectuals?
IV. A New Look at Relations Through Art Objects
– Marie-Laure, what are some of the new insights gained from the scientific collaboration between Versailles and the Palace Museum?
– Guo Fuxiang, how has the display of these art objects in both Chinese and French collections contributed to the narrative of this historical relationship?
V. Versailles and the Chinese Public
– Marie-Laure, how has the Château de Versailles increased its outreach to Chinese visitors in recent years?
– Guo Fuxiang, how have Chinese perceptions of French culture evolved over time and how
