Chapter 1382: Distressed Chinese antique art
While walking into the China Pavilion, Ye Tian also whispered to Betty and the others the origin of the China Pavilion of the Palace of Fontainebleau and the collection of antique art in the museum.
"In 1861, when Napoleon III's wife, Empress Eugenie was on a cruise in the Palace of Fontainebleau, she asked the architect Alex to build a hall for her to collect art from the Far East.
The architect chose this hall built in the Francois I period. After some reconstruction, it became the current appearance. Its main body is a hall 14 meters long and 7 meters wide.
The antique artworks displayed in the China Pavilion mainly come from three channels: tribute from Siam, treasures from China, and Chinese antique artworks purchased by the French royal family all over the world.
The largest part of the Chinese antique works of art comes from the Chinese imperial garden and the Old Summer Palace, known as the Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens. It was plundered from the Old Summer Palace by the French army invading China in 1860.
On October 7, 1860, French general Charles Montauban led his troops into the Old Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing, ransacked and looted the Old Summer Palace, and robbed a large number of Qing imperial treasures.
They took away all the treasures they could take away. Those treasures and exquisite antique works of art that were huge and heavy and could not be taken away were also smashed and completely destroyed by them!
This is not over yet. After looting the Old Summer Palace, in order to destroy the evidence, the evil British and French allied forces began to arson wildly. "
"Wow! This is too crazy, those invaders are just a bunch of wild beasts, crazy madmen!"
Betty said with emotion, a bit of anger in her tone.
As a Chinese girlfriend, under Ye Tian's ears and eyes, she naturally felt a sense of indignation when she heard such things!
Even people who have nothing to do with China, who have a little sense of justice, will definitely be angry when they hear such crazy and extinct robbers!
On the other side, Benoit and the French people flushed, their expressions were rather embarrassing!
These things that Ye Tian said are all extremely conclusive historical facts, and no one can deny it. This is also the main reason for the long-term closure of the China Pavilion at the Fontainebleau Palace!
As long as the China Pavilion is open and Chinese tourists come here to visit, they will hear these words, which will embarrass them, the entire Fontainebleau Palace, and the entire France!
France has always advocated freedom, equality and fraternity! The French claim to be an extremely art-loving nation, but they have done such an embarrassing thing. How can they not feel embarrassed?
"Steven, what you said is not entirely correct. The French army that broke into the Old Summer Palace did take away a lot of antique art and indeed destroyed a lot of things, but it was the British who set fire to the Old Summer Palace!"
Benoit strongly defended himself that his words were seriously lacking in confidence, and his voice was a little floating.
Ye Tian looked at the Frenchman and said with a sneer:
"Is there any difference? Not all shameless robbers!"
Hearing this, many French guys at the scene were immediately silenced, their faces flushed and flushed like pig liver, their expressions became even more embarrassing, and there was a vague anger in their eyes!
Ye Tian ignored them, turned his head and continued:
"In the Old Summer Palace, the treasures robbed by French commander Montauban were filled with several carriages, and all the other British and French officers and soldiers who participated in the robbery returned with full loads!
After these despicable robbers returned to Europe, relying on the huge wealth looted from the Old Summer Palace, they lived a carefree life. Many people even enjoyed it for life!
The Yuanmingyuan’s unparalleled garden masterpiece and a rare art treasure in the world burned for three full days and nights in the raging fire, and all the prosperity was burned!
Hugo once wrote angrily, ‘One day, two robbers broke into the Old Summer Palace, one robbed something and the other set fire. These two robbers, one named France and the other named English! ‘
What is even more hateful is that the British and French soldiers who participated in the robbery did not understand the cultural value of Chinese antique works of art. Many precious Chinese calligraphy and paintings were burned, and the losses were extremely heavy!
After the antiques looted by the French army from the Old Summer Palace were transported back to Europe, Montauban dedicated the seven antique artworks to Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie!
In order to collect these antique artworks from the Old Summer Palace, Queen Eugenie ordered the construction of the China Pavilion. Since then, many antique artworks from the Old Summer Palace have been added.
In museums outside of China, it should be said that among all the museums in the world, the Chinese Pavilion in the Palace of Fontainebleau is the one with the largest collection of antique works in the Old Summer Palace.
The collection of antique works of art from the Old Summer Palace is as many as thousands, some say tens of thousands, many of which are priceless and top-notch antique works of art.
Regarding the number of these antique works of art, there has never been an exact figure. For reasons known to all, the Palace of Fontainebleau has never given an exact figure! "
Having said this, Ye Tian turned his head and looked at Benova and the other Frenchmen!
The faces of those French guys were flushed, their expressions were very embarrassing, their eyes flickered, and it seemed that they were not ready to respond to Ye Tian's words!
Every one of them knows very well in their hearts that no matter how they respond, even if the tongue is bright and lotus, they can't change the facts that have happened long ago. To say more is wrong, so why should you say more?
At the same time, they did not have the slightest idea to announce the number of antique works of Yuanmingyuan collected by the China Pavilion, which would only bring unnecessary trouble!
Ye Tian glanced at these guys, then retracted his gaze and continued:
"Even Empress Eugenie is embarrassed by the large number of Chinese antiques looted from the Old Summer Palace in the China Pavilion of the Palace of Fontainebleau!
She once sighed like a ‘discovery of conscience’: ‘The emperor of China gave me treasures, but I gave back to the army’, but this is just a false sigh!
It was the catastrophe that made all the Chinese feel extremely humiliating, and I have such a deep obsession with the antique artworks of Yuanmingyuan that were looted and lost overseas!
In the previous treasure hunt in Boston, I have obtained a batch of Yuanmingyuan antique artworks that have been lost overseas. This time I hope to get more and better treasures! "
When he said these last words, Ye Tian was full of confidence and his tone was decisive!
Even if the object of this art trade is not the Palace of Fontainebleau, but the Guimet Asian Art Museum, it does not matter at all!
When the treasure of Napoleon buried in 15th Avenue of Shannones is available, the real drama will be officially staged!
You know, many of the antique artworks in that treasure are closely related to Napoleon, and they are all priceless treasures in the eyes of the French!
For all museums and collectors in France, and even for all famous museums and top collectors in the Western world, those antique works of art related to Napoleon are the treasures they most want to receive!
At that time, as long as you want to, even if you empty the entire Fontainebleau Palace China Pavilion, it is probably not a big problem!
"My dear, I believe you can achieve this goal, get more Chinese antique artworks lost from the Old Summer Palace, and return in triumph!"
Betty next to him said softly, with the same confidence and expectation in his words.
While talking, Ye Tian and the others have passed through the front hall of the China Pavilion and formally entered the exhibition area.
The first Chinese antique artwork appeared in front of Ye Tian~www.wuxiaspot.com~ At the same time, the situation in the exhibition area was clearly presented in front of Ye Tian.
This is an exhibition hall with an area of about 100 square meters. The decoration is luxurious and elegant. It is decorated in a typical French court style. On display, it is Chinese antique works of art, giving people a nondescript feeling!
There are so many Chinese antique artworks on display in the exhibition hall, almost occupying all the space, leaving only some narrow aisles!
Maybe it's because it's not open all the year round, maybe it's not understanding Chinese traditional culture at all!
The Frenchman’s way of displaying these Chinese antique works of art can be described as simple and rude, with no aesthetic feeling at all. It is almost impossible to believe that this is what the French did!
The Chinese antique artworks here are all stored in warehouse style and placed on shelves. They don't pay attention to furnishings at all, let alone matching. They look very messy and distressing next to each other!
Seeing this chaos in the exhibition hall, Ye Tian couldn't help cursing secretly.
"What a **** chewing barley and spoiling things! I feel so sorry for me!"
