Monday, June 17, 2024 On June 7, 2024, Dr. Ji Xiaofen, Director of the China National Silk Museum, and Ms. Léa Herlet, representative of the Musées Gadagne (Musée d’Histoire de Lyon), France, along with other guests, co-launched a new exhibition titled “Lyon in the 18th Century: The Prosperity of the Silk Capital in the Age of Enlightenment.
” Running from June 7 to September 6, 2024, in Hangzhou, this exhibition is a joint effort by the China National Silk Museum and the Musées Gadagne (Musée d’Histoire de Lyon), France. The exhibition is divided into two sections: “Lyon City in the 18th Century” and “The Great Lyonnais Silk,” showcasing 36 sets/pieces of architectural models, silk fabrics, clothing, portraits, and ceramics. It illustrates France’s socio-economic thoughts and fashion advancements while highlighting cultural exchanges between China and the West, featuring Chinese elements in Western painting and clothing.
Through this exhibition, the Chinese audience can gain a deeper understanding of the Hungarian aristocracy’s love for silk, jewelry, and a decadent lifestyle in the 16th and 17th centuries. Although silk originates from China, its beauty and exquisite craftsmanship can be widely seen along the Silk Road, appreciated and shared by both Eastern and Western cultures. The cultural exchanges between China and France have a long history.
As early as the end of the 17th century, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty and King Louis XIV of F.
