Groundbreaking Exhibition Celebrates 140 Years of UK-Korea Relations, Showcasing 500 Years of Artistic Evolution from Renaissance to Impressionism

SEOUL, JUN 1, (SayArt)- The National Museum of Korea, under the direction of Yoon Sung Yong, will host a special exhibit showcasing masterpieces from the National Gallery in London, titled "Eyes on Us". This exhibition will run from June 2nd to October 9th, 2023, at the museum's location in Yongsan, Seoul, Korea. 

▲ Eyes on Us: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London Illuminate Seoul's National Museum of Korea, Photo by Sims Green.This monumental event marks the first time the National Gallery's masterpieces have been exhibited in Korea and celebrates the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the UK. The exhibition, which presents a significant milestone in sharing cultural assets, traces the evolution of artistic focus from divinity and religion to humans and everyday life.

The exhibit will include 52 remarkable pieces, including Caravaggio's famous "Boy Bitten by a Lizard", showcasing works from 50 of the greatest artists in history. Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the art of the likes of Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Poussin, Velázquez, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Turner, Constable, Thomas Lawrence, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.

'Eyes on Us' will allow attendees to observe how the subject matter of artists shifted over the centuries. The exhibition boasts a curated collection of paintings, spanning from the Renaissance to Impressionism, which are highly sought after by art collectors worldwide.

The exhibition is divided into four chronological sections:

Renaissance: The descent of the gods to Earth: This section features prominent works of the Renaissance, such as those by Botticelli and Raphael, highlighting how artists began to focus more on human subjects, influenced by ancient Greek and Roman culture.
▲ At the National Museum of Korea, visitors are viewing the works of Renaissance masters, the first section of the special exhibition 'Eyes on Us', an exhibition of masterpieces at the National Gallery in London, Photo by Sims Green.

Divided Churches, Divergent Paths displays the arts of the Catholics and the Protestants side-by-side: A focus on the differing artistic directions of Catholic and Protestant churches, featuring the works of Baroque painters like Caravaggio and Rembrandt. This section emphasizes the role of religious art in promoting piety during the Catholic Counter-Reformation era and the shift towards landscape and still-life art in Protestant-dominated Northern Europe.

Enlightenment and Revolution: This section covers the 18th and 19th centuries, a period when societal emphasis on individual freedoms began to influence art. Works from this era often celebrated events or served as personal keepsakes.

▲ Caravaggio , boy bitten by a Lizard, about 1594-1595, Oil on canvas, 66 x 49.5 cm, The National Gallery, London, Photo by Sims Green.▲ Sassoferrato, The Virgin in Prayer 1640-1650 oil on canvas,73x57.7cm, the National Gallery, London, Photo by Sims Green. ▲ Willem van de Velde, A Dutch Ship and Other Small Vessels in a Strong Breeze, 1658, oil on canvas, 55x70cm, the National Gallery, Photo by Sims Green.

Impressionism: Ephemeral Moments: The final section features paintings from the Impressionist movement of the late 19th century, during which artists sought to portray the modernized cities, people, and changing urban landscapes of the time.

 

▲ Anthony van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart, about 1638, oil on canvas, 237.5x146, 1cm, the 48x80. 2cm, the National Gallery, London, Photo by Sims Green. ▲ John Constable, Stratford Mil 1820, oil on canvas, 127x182. 9cm, the National Gallery, London, Photo by Sims Green. ▲ Sir Thomas Lawrence, Portrait of Charles William Lambton ('The Red Boy'), 1825, oil on canvas, 140.5×110.6cm, the National London. Gallery, Photo by Sims Green.The director of the National Museum of Korea, Yoon Sung Yong, said, "One of our primary goals at the National Museum of Korea is to introduce world culture." He sees this exhibit as a significant step in that direction.▲ On June 1st, at the National Museum of Korea located in Yongsan, Seoul, Korea, at the special exhibition 'Eyes on Us', an exhibition of masterpieces from the National Gallery in London. (From left) National Museum of Korea Yoon Sung Yong, Christine Riding (Director of Collections and Research, The National Gallery), and Colin James Crooks (British ambassador to South Korea) are posing. Photo by Sims Green.

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