Heavenly Horses: Masterpieces from the Palace Museum

The horse, associated with resilience, vigour, loyalty, and nobility, has long been a favourite subject of Chinese painters. By the Tang dynasty (618–907), horse painting was a distinct genre. The introduction of European knowledge and techniques—particularly anatomy and perspective—in the late Ming to early Qing dynasties (17th–18th century) propelled the art of horse painting to an unprecedented height. The genre underwent a notable revival from the late Qing (19th to early 20th century) to the modern era, thanks to a further blending of traditional Chinese painting techniques with European and other styles. This exhibition celebrates the Year of the Horse in 2026 by examining and showcasing the achievements of Chinese horse painting from multiple perspectives: courtly and literati, classical and modern, Chinese and European. Divided into four thematic sections, the exhibition features nearly 100 masterpieces by more than 60 renowned artists from the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) to the 20th century. The majority of the works on display are drawn from the collection of the Palace Museum. The exhibition is enriched by loans from the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. These exceptional works offer insight into the genre’s distinctive artistic expression and cultural resonance. The exhibition is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum, and exclusively sponsored by the Institute of Philanthropy.