Nightlife and activities

"Napoleon" Special Exhibition

Date: Oct 27-Feb 28 - 10 am

Venue: Shanghai Himalayas Museum

Biggest Napoleon Collection is showing up in Shanghai.

Shanghai Himalayas Museum, joint with Chalencon Collection, is bringing "Napoleon" to the public on October 27. This special exhibition is co-curated by Shen Qibin, Board Chairman of Shanghai Himalayas Museum, and Dr. Bernard Chevallier, the global Napoleon expert who once served as the curator of Chateau de Fontainebleau. It tells a story that explores an over-50-year period of Napoleon's legendary life, in which he, beginning as a teenage from Corsica, was first crowned Emperor in France and finally exiled to Saint Helena, and had love affairs with his two wives - Josephine de Beauharnais and Maria Luise von Osterreich. The story is narrated along with strongly contrasting contemporary artworks, and gives a comprehensive and realistic presentation of Napoleon's rich, exciting life experience. The exhibition includes as many as 185 important antiques such as paintings and sculptures created for Napoleon, his manuscripts and writings, clothes, precious ornaments, furniture, and daily or military necessities. This is the largest Napoleon collection in scale ever exhibited in Shanghai. Napoleon Bonaparte was an elite that emerged from the 18th century French Revolution, which saw a historical tide that called for freedom, equality and democracy and revolted against feudalism. With his extraordinary military talent, enchanting personality and outstanding leadership, he started as a member of a declining aristocratic family on the island of Corsica and then leapt to become Emperor of the First French Empire, and fought back the Anti-France Alliances formed by Britain, Russia, Prussia and others for several times.