Chopin's world on display at National Museum

Three parts of the exhibition unveil the social conditions and artistic world before, during and after Chopin's time, and the various things that influenced the musician. They show the art created during Poland's fall in the late 18th century. The last king of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski, failed to save his nation from the crisis of being partitioned but he contributed greatly to the flourishing of arts. He established national museums and art academies. His patronage attracted foreign artists including Italian painter Marcello Bacciarelli (1731-1818).

Bacciarelli's notable portrait of the king, Stanislaw August Poniatowski with an Hourglass, is part of the exhibition. It portrays a hopeless monarch who found it impossible to regain Poland's independence through reforms.

The loss of sovereignty pushed Polish art in a different direction. People's strong interest in Poland's history, scenery and folklore made historic, landscape and genre paintings popular. The expression of national spirit and anti-suppression underlined the artistic creativity of Chopin's contemporaries.

Symbolic artworks on show include a masterpiece of Jan Matejko (1838-1893), King Stefan Batory at Pskov. The painting, a permanent display at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, measures 6 meters long and 3 meters high. It depicts the Polish king's victory in a campaign against Russia.

Chopin playing at Paris' Hotel Lambert, another shown picture by the pianist's friend Teofil Kwiatkowski (1809-1891), recreates the gatherings of Polish expatriates living in Paris who often organized charity balls to raise funds for the poor back at home. It serves as the background of the exhibition's poster.

Also on display are landscapes of Warsaw during the 19th century, which engage the audience with the circumstance that nurtured the child prodigy Chopin.

Professor Poprzcka says one can feel that though Poland as a cohesive country vanished, Polish people took comfort from these paintings; the Polish cultural traditions were safeguarded through flourishing artistic activities, which united people and helped Poland to later retain its independence.

Polish paintings experienced a golden age at the turn of the 20th century. Young artists shrugged off the responsibility to be patriotic and created pure art. Painters sourced inspirations from poems and music. Considered a poetic genius, Chopin's compositions continued to inspire them and others worldwide.

IF YOU GO

9 am-5 pm, closed Mondays, until May 10. National Museum of China, east of Tian'anmen Square, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6511-6188.