Written/Compiled and Reported by Li Xinyi
After an eight-year hiatus, treasures from the Louvre are back in Taiwan. Centered on the millennia-old tales of Greek mythology, the exhibition showcases 100 works including paintings, sculptures, and pottery from seven top French museums, with a total insured value of over NT$3.3 billion. Starting today (the 28th), tickets can be purchased at 7-Eleven convenience stores and the Books.com.tw ticketing system, with advance tickets offering a “buy one, get the second half off” deal for two people (double ticket pack NT$420, original price NT$560).
The work *Mars and Venus* depicts the Trojan War, where Mars, who supported the Trojans, stands opposed to Venus. In the end, Mars lies on the ground, seeking help from Venus, who is accompanied by the winged god of love and doves. Although the painting portrays a war theme, the beauty of the female figure takes center stage. (Image provided by (C) RMN (Musée du Louvre) / Hervé Lewandowski)
“The Western Myths and Legends – Treasures from the Louvre Exhibition” is primarily curated by the Musée du Louvre in France. In addition to Louvre collections, it also includes artworks from seven other museums: the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, the Musée de l’Hospice d’Issenheim, the Musée Ingres, the Musée André Diligent – Arts et Industries, the Palace of Versailles, and the Palace of Trianon National Museum. The exhibits range from frescoes of Pompeii to masterpieces from the 16th to 19th centuries by renowned artists such as Boucher, David, Ingres, and Canova, including paintings, sculptures, and ancient Greek pottery.
*Apollo Revealing His Divinity to the Shepherdess Issa* is the work of François Boucher, who frequently created pieces for the Palace of Versailles and participated in the decoration of several royal palaces. He was even appointed as the First Painter to the King. This painting depicts the moment when Apollo, abandoning his guise as a shepherd, reveals his divine nature to Issa. (Image provided by
To understand the art of the ancient Greeks, one must first be familiar with Western mythology. As Henri Loyrette, Director of the Musée du Louvre in France, once said: “Mythology is not merely a collection of stories about the gods, heroes, and fantastic creatures of ancient times. It is also a way in which people interpret their world, nature, and the cosmos—a way of thinking that infused Western ideology. It also raises many questions for us… Especially since the seventeenth century, when French classical literature was revisited, mythology has become an important source of inspiration for artists.” This exhibition will be held at the National Palace Museum in Taipei from January 20 to May 14, 2012.
The story of *Roger Rescuing Angelica* is taken from *Orlando Furioso*, a famous epic set in the era of Charlemagne, completed by the Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto in the early sixteenth century. This painting is the work of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, the last major leader of the Neoclassical school. His artworks later influenced artists such as Degas, Renoir, and Picasso. (Image provided by /