Chinese Art For Royal Academy

An unprecedented collection of Chinese treasures - including a jade boulder a metre tall which was shipped 1,000 miles across 18th century China before being carved into the image of a holy mountain - is being loaned by the Palace Museum in Beijing to an exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. Most of the exhibits had never been seen in the west, and half, including paintings, carvings, porcelain and textiles, were ranked "first class" by the Chinese. The exhibition will include more than 150 paintings giving visitors an opportunity unrivalled in the world to study the art of the period - they are so fragile, there is no collection on permanent display anywhere. China: The Three Emperors Nov 12 2005 - Apr 17 2006 For the full story - click the title Irish Art