Divine Steeds Gallops into the Palace Museum

A painting of a man riding a horse by Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) artist Zhao Mengfu. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Divine Steeds: The World of Horses in the Palace Museum's Painting and Calligraphy Collections recently kicked off at the Palace Museum in Beijing. The exhibition is now open to the public in the museum's Wenhua Dian (Hall of Literary Brilliance) and will run until June 21.

In its four chapters — journey and leisure, pasturing and rearing, martial prowess, and divine spirits — the display showcases 55 paintings and calligraphy works, among which 28 are debuting to the public for the very first time, including 20 first-grade cultural relics.

Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, said that the spirit of the horse, characterized by steady progress leading to lasting success, resonates deeply with the Palace Museum's ethos of "revering heritage with sincerity and devotion, and passing on craftsmanship with ingenuity".

"By hosting this special exhibition, the Palace Museum seeks to celebrate the uplifting spirit of the era embodied by the horse's upright and aspiring posture. It also aims to guide visitors to appreciate ancient masterpieces, explore the social history and cultural ethos of different periods, and reflect on the profound and expansive richness of Chinese civilization," he said.

Visitors appreciate a giant horse painting by Italian Jesuit missionary Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766). [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]