Princely collections debut in China's state museum

German art critic and Flemish painting specialist Wilhelm von Bode once praised the eminence of Liechtenstein's royal collection of Rubens, saying that a complete knowledge of the great Flemish master cannot be acquired without having seen his works at the Liechtenstein gallery.

The prince of Liechtenstein is noted for assembling one of the finest holdings of Rubens' works, along with the Louvre, Museo Nacional del Prado and the Munich-based art museum Alte Pinakothek.

Those in Beijing can now catch a glimpse of the richness and comprehensiveness of Liechtenstein's royal treasures, which are being exhibited for the first time in China.