When Emperor Kangxi Met the Sun King: A Sino-French Art Exhibition of Prosperous Eras

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

The special exhibition "Emperor Kangxi and the Sun King Louis XIV—A Convergence of Sino-French Art and Culture" will open at the National Palace Museum on October 3. The exhibition gathers precious items from 18 lending institutions, including the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, the Musée Guimet in France, the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the Shenyang Museum, as the grand finale of the National Palace Museum’s centennial celebration. Among them, the Portrait of Louis XIV from the Palace of Versailles and the Portrait of Emperor Kangxi in Casual Attire Writing Calligraphy from the Palace Museum in Beijing vividly depict the majestic images of the two great monarchs of the same era.

Due to Emperor Kangxi’s fondness for Western enamel and glassware, the artworks displayed in Taiwan include the "Enamel Cup with the Image of Jesus and the Six Disciples" from the Musée de la Faïence et des Arts Décoratifs in Limoges, France, and the "Glass Dolphin-Shaped Dessert Container" from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France. These pieces not only showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of Europe at the time but also illustrate how Western techniques stimulated and influenced Chinese craftsmanship through the introduction by Jesuit missionaries and maritime trade. Another exhibit from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the "Blue-and-White Incense Burner with Curtain Pattern," reveals the French fascination with Eastern porcelain at the time. Not only did French potters extensively replicate Chinese ceramics, but they also created pieces with their own unique characteristics, developing a distinctive French style.

The "Emperor Kangxi and the Sun King Louis XIV" special exhibition showcases the unique styles and exchanges between Emperor Kangxi of the 17th and 18th centuries and King Louis XIV of France. Pre-sale tickets are available now until October 2, with a buy-one-get-the-second-at-half-price offer for couples (double ticket package: NT$375, original price NT$500). Tickets can be purchased at convenience store ticketing systems such as Uni-President, FamilyMart, OK Mart, the National Theater and Concert Hall, Books.com.tw, or the Accupass event platform.