“印度宮廷的輝煌——英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館珍藏展”

由故宮博物院、英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館聯(lián)合舉辦的“印度宮廷的輝煌——英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館珍藏展”于2013年4月25日在故宮博物院午門展廳隆重開幕，百余件（套）精美的印度宮廷文物在午門展廳與廣大觀眾見面。

印度作為歷史悠久的文明古國(guó)，在宗教、哲學(xué)、科學(xué)、文學(xué)、藝術(shù)等方面創(chuàng)造了輝煌的成就。數(shù)千年來，孔雀王朝、笈多王朝及莫臥兒王朝等強(qiáng)大帝國(guó)使印度形成了獨(dú)特的文化。它是印度教、佛教、耆那教和錫克教的誕生地，也受到了伊斯蘭教的深刻影響。

1700年之后，莫臥兒帝國(guó)開始衰落，強(qiáng)大的地方統(tǒng)治者以及歐洲各貿(mào)易公司紛紛拓展勢(shì)力范圍。各種文化的交流日漸頻繁，很多精美的藝術(shù)珍品都誕生于這一時(shí)期，展示了權(quán)力和影響力的轉(zhuǎn)移所帶來的王室地位和身份以及宮廷文化和藝術(shù)資助的變化。

成立于1852年的英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館是世界領(lǐng)先的藝術(shù)和設(shè)計(jì)博物館。其豐富多樣的藏品跨越了數(shù)千年的人類歷史，涵蓋了每一個(gè)藝術(shù)門類，來自印度次大陸的藝術(shù)藏品尤其著名。

故宮博物院與英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館有著良好而廣泛的合作。“印度宮廷的輝煌——英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館珍藏展”是雙方又一次共同策劃、精誠合作的重要展覽。展覽以英國(guó)國(guó)立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館的珍貴收藏為依托，特別精選繪畫、織品、武備、飾物等印度宮廷藝術(shù)珍品113件（套），從宮廷朝會(huì)、宮廷生活、宮殿之外、西方的影響等四個(gè)方面展示了18至19世紀(jì)豐富多彩的印度王權(quán)文化，鮮活地展現(xiàn)了印度宮廷藝術(shù)的華美風(fēng)姿。

展覽將展出至2013年7月31日。本次展覽不單獨(dú)售票，觀眾持故宮博物院門票即可免費(fèi)參觀。

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.

（來源：英國(guó)使館文化教育處，編輯 Helen）