The Projection of the Peak - The Song Dynasty Painting Exhibition of the "Chinese Historical Painting Series" was successfully held in Naples, Italy

On July 3rd, the peak projection of the "Chinese Historical Painting Department" Song Art Exhibition, hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism and Zhejiang University, was grandly opened at the San Teodoro Palace in Naples, Italy.

Li Xinfang, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism of Zhejiang Province, Petrocelli, representative of the Mayor and City Councilor of Pompeii, Totoli, President of the Oriental University of Naples, Aruda, Director of the San Teodoro Palace in Naples, Petrota, Senior Commissioner of the Department of Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Naples Municipal Government, and nearly 100 guests from local cultural, artistic, media and overseas Chinese communities attended the event.

Li Xinfang stated in her speech that Zhejiang has beautiful natural scenery and profound cultural heritage, and has enjoyed the reputation of "Beautiful Jiangnan" since ancient times. As the core region of the Southern Song Dynasty in Chinese history, Zhejiang nurtured the peak atmosphere of Chinese painting history.   Both Italy and China have a long history and splendid civilization. This selection of over a hundred high-definition classic replicas from the "Complete Collection of Song Paintings" will be exhibited in southern Italy, hoping to build a platform for dialogue and exchange with the charm of Eastern aesthetics, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between China and Italy.

Petrocelli, on behalf of the Pompeii Municipal Government, warmly welcomes the arrival of the Zhejiang delegation and feels honored to be invited to attend the ceremony. He introduced that Pompeii is a historic city in Italy and a tourist destination in the Naples region. He once held an exhibition of ancient city ruins in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Over the years, the two cities have maintained friendly exchanges, hoping that this exhibition can open a window for local people to understand Zhejiang and promote closer exchanges, cooperation, and friendly relations between the two sides.

In his speech, Tottori praised the "Chinese Painting Series of Various Dynasties" as a profound cultural project that showcases the magnificent picture of Chinese civilization to Italy. Its global collection and compilation work not only provides excellent examples for the protection of world cultural heritage, but also inspires Italy's enthusiasm for exploring its own overseas treasures. The Oriental University of Naples is the oldest sinology research institution in Europe. The exhibition showcases the correspondence between the Song Dynasty in China and the medieval period in Europe, highlighting the profoundness and profundity of Chinese civilization. He stated that this exhibition is an important opportunity for mutual learning of civilizations and will further strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.

The theme of this exhibition is "Projection of the Peak", with three major sections: "Standing Images to Express Meaning", "Exploring Things to Achieve Beauty", and "Various Worlds". It presents the poetic landscapes, flowers, birds, fish, insects, and figures depicted by Song Dynasty painters. The exhibition successfully reproduced the prosperous and enlightened era of the Song Dynasty in ancient Chinese history, which was characterized by a combination of commodity economy, cultural education, technological innovation, and social governance. Through a number of precious book and painting copies such as "Plum Blossom Joyful Manual" and "Forest Spring High", it confirms the extraordinary height of Song painting in artistic theory. The floating lacquer experience of the intangible cultural heritage lacquer fan at the event site showcases a thousand year old oriental charm through the collision of traditional lacquer craftsmanship and modern creativity, leaving guests in awe.

The response at the event was enthusiastic, and the guests' interest in the exhibition continued to rise. Many guests highly praised the painting art of the Song Dynasty and expressed their desire to have a deep understanding of Zhejiang and experience its local customs and traditions on site. Perota, Senior Commissioner of the Department of Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Naples Municipal Government and an art historian, sighed: "The most attractive work for me in this exhibition is the group fan landscape painting 'Watching the Tide of the Qiantang River'. With just a few strokes, the posture of the surging tide ready to take off is vividly displayed, and the blank spaces at the corners also evoke infinite imagination, as if I can hear the sound of waves from Zhejiang from the painting

After visiting, students from a local art school said, "This exhibition overturned my understanding of Song Dynasty painting. When I enjoyed the painting 'Along the River during Qingming Festival' up close, I found that the details and expressions of the characters in the painting were so realistic and vivid. What's even more amazing is the Chinese painting's grasp of narrative space. The characters are not isolated individuals, but together form a flowing space-time whole

To meet the audience's need to fully appreciate the charm of the "big series", the opening day event was extended by more than an hour. During this period, Li Xinfang held talks and exchanges with guest representatives from Naples and Pompeii.

The "Chinese Historical Painting Department" compiled and published by Zhejiang University and the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau includes 12405 pieces (sets) of ancient Chinese painting collections made of paper, silk (including silk and satin), linen and other materials from 263 cultural and museum institutions at home and abroad. Among them, there are 9155 pieces (sets) of domestic collections and 3250 pieces (sets) of foreign collections, covering the vast majority of inherited "national treasure" level painting treasures. Compiled and published 62 volumes and 232 volumes of "Complete Works of Pre Qin Han Tang Painting", "Complete Works of Song Painting", "Complete Works of Yuan Painting", "Complete Works of Ming Painting", and "Complete Works of Qing Painting". This is the most comprehensive and largest publication of Chinese painting image literature among similar publications to date.

Since 2022, the "Chinese Historical Painting Series" Song Art Exhibition has been held in various places including the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Denmark, the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium. It has received warm welcome and positive feedback from the attending audience, and has received attention and praise from experts and media from all walks of life at home and abroad.