'Sleeping beauties' see the light of day

Beijing is hosting an exhibition of rare Italian Renaissance art, where most of the works have never been seen outside of the country, let alone Asia. Wang Kaihao reports.

An array of rare artifacts that once lay neglected in the storerooms of Italian museums, were finally given the chance to say "ciao" to the world at their global debut at the Capital Museum in Beijing last week.

These "sleeping beauties" were unveiled to the public on March 27 at the exhibition, Art, Culture and Daily Life in Renaissance Italy, which features 102 artworks and artifacts from 17 Italian institutions, including the Uffizi Gallery and Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence.