Unidentified court artist, Amusements in the Xuande Emperor’s Palace, Ming dynasty, mid- to late 15th century. Handscroll, ink and colour on silk © Palace Museum

HONG KONG - The thematic exhibition of the Hong Kong Palace Museum “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Stories Untold — Figure Paintings of the Ming Dynasty from the Palace Museum” is the first ever exhibition of historical Chinese figure paintings in Hong Kong. The exhibition has carefully selected 81 sets (97 pieces) of the exquisite surviving works by around 60 Ming dynasty painters from the Palace Museum collection, among which 14 sets (16 pieces) are national grade-one cultural relics. The paintings will be shown in four rotations, with about 20 on display in each rotation for around three months. The paintings in each rotation are thoughtfully divided into groups to showcase the artistic pursuits and achievements of court painters, literati painters, and professional painters from the early, middle, and late periods of the Ming dynasty. It will unveil fascinating stories about the painters and the painted and show the multifaceted lives and spiritual world of people living in Ming dynasty. The paintings and the stories about them will deepen visitors’ understanding of traditional Chinese paintings, Chinese history, and Chinese culture.

This exhibition is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum. It is solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Hong Kong Palace Museum. Through 3. november 2024

Liu Jun (active mid- to late 15th century), Emperor Taizu Calling on Zhao Pu on a Snowy Night, Ming dynasty, mid- to late 15th century. Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk © Palace Museum.

Wen Zhengming (1470–1559, Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion, Ming dynasty, Jiajing period, 1542. Handscroll, ink and colour on gold paper © Palace Museum.

Tang Yin (1470–1524), The Tree in the Wind, Ming dynasty, early 16th century. Handscroll, ink on paper © Palace Museum.

Qiu Ying (about 1494–1552), Illustration of Tributaries, Ming dynasty, mid-16th century. Handscroll, ink and colour on silk © Palace Museum.

Ding Yunpeng (1547–after 1628), Confucius, Laozi, and Buddhist Arhat, Ming dynasty, late 16th or early 17th century. Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper © Palace Museum.