Hong Kong as the next important stop of National Gallery’s Asia Tour, featuring an exceptional presentation of fifty-two paintings by beloved European artists such as Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya, Turner, Constable, Monet, and Van Gogh
The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is delighted to announce the special exhibition “Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London”, on view from 22 November 2023 to 11 April 2024. Organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the National Gallery, London, this exhibition will be the first showcase of the Gallery’s prestigious painting collection in Hong Kong. It features 52 of the world’s finest masterpieces painted by fifty influential artists, spanning more than 400 years of Western art history. AIA Hong Kong & Macau is the Lead Sponsor, and Centurion from American Express is the Major Sponsor of this special exhibition.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see in Hong Kong the finest masterpieces from the National Gallery, London
The HKPM aspires to establish itself as a leading institution on the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while fostering cross-cultural dialogue by showcasing the finest objects from different civilisations, supporting Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. With the National Gallery’s recent renovation project, the HKPM is given an unprecedented opportunity to present the special exhibition “Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London”. The 52 masterpieces on view, dating to the 15th to early 20th century, encompass the most significant turning points in the history of art, from the Renaissance to impressionism and post-impressionism, represented by some of the world’s most revered artists, including Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya, Turner, Constable, Monet, and Van Gogh.
Through this exhibition, which is in essence a “National Gallery in miniature”, visitors will experience the captivating history of Western painting as uniquely told by the HKPM with highlights from the National Gallery, one of the finest art collections in the world. Key pieces include Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius (about 1500) by Sandro Botticelli; The Garvagh Madonna (about 1510–1511) by Raphael; Boy Bitten by a Lizard (about 1594–1595) by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio; Self Portrait at the Age of 63 (1669) by Rembrandt; Portrait of Charles William Lambton (“The Red Boy”, 1825) by Sir Thomas Lawrence; The Parting of Hero and Leander (before 1837) by Joseph Mallord William Turner; Long Grass with Butterflies (1890) by Vincent van Gogh; and Irises (about 1914–1917) by Claude Monet.
A fresh curatorial approach and rich learning offerings
The exhibition will be divided into six thematic sections featuring sacred images, mythological stories, everyday scenes, portraiture, landscapes, and paintings of modern life. Audiences will see these masterpieces in a new light as the exhibition draws their attention to the global connections found in the precious pigments used, the exotic objects depicted, and the diverse sources of artistic inspiration drawn upon. Unique to the HKPM’s presentation of the exhibition is the emphasis on the scientific research done by conservators at the National Gallery on a selection of paintings. Audiences will be fascinated by the layers of secrets hidden beneath the surface, revealed by science and advanced technology.
The HKPM is thrilled to be the third important stop of the exhibition’s Asia tour after its successful run at the Shanghai Museum (17 January 2023–7 May 2023) and the National Museum of Korea (2 June 2023–9 October 2023). The exhibition in Hong Kong is one of four events supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund (Mega ACE Fund) in 2023, a fund newly launched by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to support international and large-scale arts and cultural events in Hong Kong.
Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, said, “The HKPM is thrilled to be the first cultural institution in Hong Kong to partner with the National Gallery in bringing some of the most significant works in its collection to Hong Kong. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through Western art history, affording audiences in Hong Kong and the nearby cities an exceptional opportunity to view these legendary paintings without having to travel to London. As a leading museum with a global vision, the HKPM is committed not only to helping traditional Chinese culture go global, but also to bridging the world's diverse civilisations through intercultural dialogue and partnerships, solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said, "I am very pleased that the National Gallery will be visiting Hong Kong with a superb representation of paintings by celebrated European artists. With this exhibition we are continuing to build on our highly successful previous tour of Australia and Japan, and are now reaching new audiences across Asia. The Gallery has an important role to play in promoting the UK’s globally recognised position as a centre for culture and the arts, and we remain passionately committed to cultural exchange internationally. This tour demonstrates the continued interest of audiences from around the world in the European tradition and the world-renowned collection we are custodians of here at the National Gallery. We were delighted more than 420,000 people enjoyed this exhibition in Shanghai and we are now looking forward to introducing it to visitors in Hong Kong."
Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau, said, “This exhibition is a highly anticipated event for Hong Kong’s arts and cultural scene, bringing to the city more than 50 masterpieces from the National Gallery, London. The fact that Hong Kong is serving as one of the important stops of the National Gallery’s Asia Tour is also a clear indication of the city’s position as a global hub for arts and culture. We are thrilled to be Lead Sponsor of this exhibition, partnering with the Hong Kong Palace Museum to offer members of the community the chance to appreciate up close the refined beauty and charm of this prized collection of paintings. Events such as this enable us to contribute to the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong and deliver on our purpose to help people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”
The HKPM will offer extensive learning opportunities for visitors to explore the connections between art and science and express their creativity. A range of educational offerings, including talks, painting inside the gallery, music performances, hands-on workshops, and various learning resources as well as art workshops for teachers and students, will give participants a deeper insight into the cultural milieus within which the paintings were created.
The special exhibition will be on view in Gallery 9 of the HKPM from 22 November 2023 to 11 April 2024. Tickets for this exhibition, which also grant access to the thematic exhibitions in Galleries 1–7, are priced at HK$150 for adults and HK$75 for concessions* and will be available for sale or reservation from 1 October 2023 (Sunday) through the West Kowloon Cultural District’s online ticketing platforms and ticketing partners.
HKPM’s another new special exhibition “Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan" opens from September 27, 2023 to January 8, 2024, at Gallery 8. A special combo ticket, priced at HK$240 for adults and HK$120 for concessions*, will be available to visitors who would like to visit both special exhibitions, “Gazing at Sanxingdui” at Gallery 8 and “Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London” at Gallery 9, as well as thematic exhibitions in Gallery 1 to Gallery 7 on the same day. 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 become a leading institution in 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 and is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and educational programmes in 2023–2031.
Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum combines a Hong Kong perspective with a global vision to present precious artefacts from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum aims to build international partnerships and position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the local community, the Museum strives to inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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 free.
More at nationalgallery.org.uk
Twitter @nationalgallery
Facebook @thenationalgallery
Instagram #nationalgallery
YouTube The National Gallery
About AIA Hong Kong & Macau
AIA Group Limited established its operations in Hong Kong in 1931. To date, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau have close to 18,000 financial planners1, as well as an extensive network of independent financial advisors, brokerage and bancassurance partners. We serve over 3.4 million customers2, offering them a wide selection of professional services and products ranging from individual life, group life, accident, medical and health, pension, personal lines insurance to investment-linked assurance schemes with numerous investment options. We are also dedicated to providing superb product solutions to meet the financial needs of high-net-worth customers.
1 as at 31 March 2023
2 Including AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau's individual life, group insurance and pension customers (as at 31 March 2023)
About Mega Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) Fund
Mega ACE Fund targets mega arts and cultural events in Hong Kong 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, as well as 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.
