英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆珍藏展

“印度宫廷的辉煌——英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆珍藏展”

由故宫博物院、英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆联合举办的“印度宫廷的辉煌——英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆珍藏展”于2013年4月25日在故宫博物院午门展厅隆重开幕，百余件（套）精美的印度宫廷文物在午门展厅与广大观众见面。

印度作为历史悠久的文明古国，在宗教、哲学、科学、文学、艺术等方面创造了辉煌的成就。数千年来，孔雀王朝、笈多王朝及莫卧儿王朝等强大帝国使印度形成了独特的文化。它是印度教、佛教、耆那教和锡克教的诞生地，也受到了伊斯兰教的深刻影响。

1700年之后，莫卧儿帝国开始衰落，强大的地方统治者以及欧洲各贸易公司纷纷拓展势力范围。各种文化的交流日渐频繁，很多精美的艺术珍品都诞生于这一时期，展示了权力和影响力的转移所带来的王室地位和身份以及宫廷文化和艺术资助的变化。

成立于1852年的英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆是世界领先的艺术和设计博物馆。其丰富多样的藏品跨越了数千年的人类历史，涵盖了每一个艺术门类，来自印度次大陆的艺术藏品尤其著名。

故宫博物院与英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆有着良好而广泛的合作。“印度宫廷的辉煌——英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆珍藏展”是双方又一次共同策划、精诚合作的重要展览。展览以英国国立维多利亚与艾伯特博物馆的珍贵收藏为依托，特别精选绘画、织品、武备、饰物等印度宫廷艺术珍品113件（套），从宫廷朝会、宫廷生活、宫殿之外、西方的影响等四个方面展示了18至19世纪丰富多彩的印度王权文化，鲜活地展现了印度宫廷艺术的华美风姿。

展览将展出至2013年7月31日。本次展览不单独售票，观众持故宫博物院门票即可免费参观。

The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts—

Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum

The exhibition of “The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts—Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum”, jointly organized by the Palace Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in Britain, saw its grand opening on 25th April 2013. Over a hundred refined objects from India’s royal courts are on display in the Meridian Gate Gallery.

As an ancient civilization with a long history, India has made glorious achievements in religion, philosophy, science, literature, art, etc. Over thousands of years its distinctive culture has been shaped by powerful dynasties, such as the Maurya, Gupta and Mughal empires. It is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and has also been profoundly influenced by Islam.

The power of the Mughal Empire declined after 1700, with strong regional rulers and the European trading companies expanding their dominance. Exchanges between various cultures flourished and many fine works of art were created during that period, revealing how royal status and identity, court culture and patronage were transformed in response to these shifts of power and influence.

Founded in 1852, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is the world’s leading museum of art and design, with rich and diverse collections that cover all art forms and date from thousands of years ago to the present day. The Museum is particularly famed for its collection of art from the Indian Sub-continent.

The Palace Museum and the V&A have had sound and extensive collaborations. “The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts—Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum”, is another important exhibition jointly planned and organized by the two museums. Drawing on the superlative collections of the V&A, this exhibition features 113 pieces (sets) of artworks from India’s royal courts, including paintings, textile, arms and armour as well as ornamentations. The exhibition is composed of four parts -- Darbar; Plalace Life; Beyond the Palace and the Influence of the West. The exhibition explores the rich and diversified culture of Indian Kingship in the eighteen to nineteenth centuries and vividly demonstrates the resplendent charm of art in Indian royal courts.

The exhibition will close on 31st July 2013. There is no separate ticket issued for the exhibition. Visitors can enter with the museum ticket.

（来源：英国使馆文化教育处，编辑 Helen）