Shanghai Daily news

A replica of an ornate room in Borely Castle and period costumes worn by ladies in Marseilles are part of an exhibition featuring 131 artworks from the French Mediterranean city. The exhibition opens next Thursday in the Shanghai Museum. (Photo: Shanghai Daily)

The ancient Mediterranean port makes a major contribution to the ongoing ``Year of France in China'' with an exhibition that includes part of the interior of a chateau, writes Wang Jie.
Nearly every trendy bourgeois has a craze for the purple lavender of Provence and the brilliant sunshine of the Mediterranean Sea. And while they're in the south of France, a visit to Marseilles -- the former Ancient Greek and Roman Empire port -- is a must.
An exhibition featuring nearly 131 artworks, ranging from paintings and sculptures to costumes and home decorations to be unveiled in the Shanghai Museum next Thursday will also reveal Marseilles' glorious past in the world of art in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The exhibition is part of ``The Week of Marseilles in Shanghai'' -- yet another event during ``The Year of France in China.'' The artworks to be showcased in Shanghai are on loan from six major museums in Marseilles.
``The show is like a warming-up before the `Selections from the Versailles,' the biggest exhibition on the museum's schedule, which will be held at the end of this year,'' says Chen Xiejun, the curator at the Shanghai Museum. ``It also provides a good opportunity for local visitors to know more about another city in France apart from the more familiar ones like Paris or Cannes.''
To the accompaniment of Baroque music, visitors to the exhibition will step back to the Marseilles of a bygone era. The exhibition hall on the first floor of the museum is divided into different sections. The apple green or egg white hues painted in each room plus the crystal pendant lamps remind one of a French regal scene.
The highlight of the exhibition is a replica of a living room in Borely Castle, the most beautiful chateau in Marseilles. In the 18th century, it was very fashionable for the nobility and the upper-class to own a chateau somewhere in the countryside where they could chat over art and literature -- and hold huge entertainments.
The castle bears witness to the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the Borely family and over the years, many world celebrities have come to visit or stay in this castle overlooking the sea. The elaborately designed plates on the tables, the huge paintings on the walls or the high-quality carpet spread on the floor seem to be waiting for another banquet for the castle's owners and their friends.
``Since 1700, Marseilles has been one of the most famous harbor cities in Europe,'' says Chen by way of introduction. ``Its print fabrics and colored ceramics were very popular.''
The 11 costumes on display prove Chen's statement. The well-tailored one-piece dresses will arouse much curiosity among visitors to the exhibition, like who had worn them and at what kind of function? They still look chic and elegant today and ready for another fancy party.
Provence-style painting is another aspect of Marseilles' pride. Because of its geographic location, the art scene there had French and Italian influences. To capture the stunning landscapes found in southern France, artists preferred to use brilliant and striking colors on their canvases.
The colored glazed pottery business was prosperous in Marseilles during the 18th century. There were about 12 workshops operating and because of the high price of silverwares and goldenwares, colored glazed pottery was well received at that time.
Inspired by legends and mythology, the multi-colored hues and scenes on the pottery are superb in both technique and art.However, it seems that the people of Marseilles mainly favored blue and brown colors as no red hues can be seen in the ceramics on display.

Date: June 2-30, 9am-5pm
Address: 201 People's Ave
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 6372-3500