Napoleon's indispensable role in the establishment of the Louvre shows the important role he played in politics. The Louvre was initially a castle used for the storage of royal documents and treasures. In 1798, Napoleon took charge of one of the largest-scale extensions in the museum's history. On show are several drafts and a paperboard relief of Louvre and Tuileries in 1948, which offer a glimpse into how Louvre's space was enlarged. Louvre was renamed the "Napoleon Museum" in 1803.
Visitors can see several works of neo-classicism of that time, including a bust of Lise Roland, daughter of its sculptor Philippe-Laurent Roland and a set of exquisite tea service owned by Napoleon and Marie-Louise.
The exhibition concludes with the section "After 1815" that reflects Napoleon's influence on people after he was exiled to and died on Saint Helena island.
People from both museums hope the exhibition will generate Chinese interests in Napoleon and the Louvre. "The number of Chinese people ranks sixth among all visitors to the Louvre," says Henri Loyrette, director of the museum. "Louvre not only protects a cultural heritage but also serves the whole world."
Li Ji, deputy director of the Palace Museum, reveals that the Palace Museum is preparing for its exhibition at the Louvre that will display art works from the reign of Emperor Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which include elements of Western technique and style.
Napoleon et le Louvre also inaugurated the third Croisements/Jiaoliu, an art festival which includes more than 100 visual and stage works in 18 Chinese cities. The other exhibitions are:
Artificial Nature @ Art Lab which will see artist Pauline Fondevila create an elaborate mural this month in Shanghai.