International Exhibitions and Programmes

France and Britain: Art for a new age 1817-1917

Exhibition to tour six cities in Japan, April 2017 – June 2018

A new exhibition from Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales exploring the art of France and Britain in the nineteenth century will tour Japan from April 2017. This tour reflects the global reputation of the art collections of Amgueddfa Cymru, in particular the magnificent collection bequeathed by Gwendoline and Margaret Davies.

The theme of France and Britain: Art for a new age 1817-1917 draws on the strengths of the Museum’s collections: the relationship between British and French art in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This was a time when influences travelled back and forth across the English Channel, from Turner and Constable in Britain to Monet and Cézanne in France, helping to shape the future of modern art.

Organised by Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales in partnership with White International Relations, the exhibition comprises paintings, drawings and watercolours selected from Wales’ national art collection.

France and Britain: Art for a new age 1817-1917 will travel to six venues:

• Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum: 1 April - 28 May, 2017
• Ehime Museum of Art: 7 June - 23 July, 2017
• Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art: 29 July - 10 September, 2017
• Okazaki City Museum: 23 September - 12 November, 2017
• Shizuoka City Museum of Art: 23 November 2017 - 28 January 2018
• Fukui Fine Arts Museum: 20 April - 10 June, 2018

France and Britain: Art for a new age 1817-1917 spans the period between the French defeat at Waterloo and the turmoil of the First World War, a century of friendly Franco-British relations that opened up new possibilities and allowed both artists and ideas to cross the Channel in both directions. From a post-war concern with rural poverty and worker unrest to the late 19th-century struggle to break free from the constraints of academicism, the selection of 57 oil paintings and 32 watercolours and drawings tells a fascinating story of changing attitudes in art.

Celebrating Wales in China

The China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing is hosting a brand new exhibition on the history of Wales, Wales, Land of the Red Dragon from 4 March until 30 June 2013.

The exhibition is organized by Amgueddfa Cymru as part of celebrations surrounding Wales in Chongqing week 2013.

Wales, Land of the Red Dragon is an introduction to Wales and features many important objects from our wide-ranging collections.

The exhibition reveals the unique character of Wales through its culture and language, its history and landscape.

Important themes include the many contributions made by Wales to global culture, such as the growth of modern industry in the 18th and 19th centuries, the development of the science of geology and the struggle for the rights of ordinary people.

From the age of Roman occupation to the English conquest of the 13th century, from its leading role in the industrial revolution to its part in the evolution of the modern world, the story of Wales is told in full.

Highlights of the exhibition, supported by the Welsh Government, include:

• The 'Castell Carn Dochan' gold cup and cover discovered in north Wales in 1863 owned by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn of Denbighshire.
• a porcelain tureen and dish, made in China about 1760 - throughout the eighteenth century wealthy Europeans ordered dinner services from China, decorated with their family coat of arms and these services were important status symbols.
• an elaborate Ornamental slate fan, made by a Welsh quarry man in about 1910.

Wales, Land of the Red Dragon is part of the relationship between Amgueddfa Cymru and China Three Gorges Museum in the municipality of Chongqing, initiated by an agreement signed in 2008.

It follows the highly successful exhibition From Steep Hillsides: Ancient Rock Carvings from Dazu, China held at National Museum Cardiff in 2011 and organised in collaboration with Dazu Rock Carvings Museum under the auspices of Chongqing Culture Bureau.

Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru, David Anderson, said:

"We are delighted to be able to present this important exhibition on Wales to the Three Gorges Museum in China, as our opportunity to reciprocate following the successful Dazu exhibition here in Cardiff.

"International work is one of our main priorities and this partnership is an excellent way to promote our collections in China and offer visitors the chance to know the story of Wales and learn more about our nation's rich and unique assets in culture, history and the environment.

"I hope it will inspire and educate visitors. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the remarkable progress of the Wales-Chongqing link."

Telling the World about Wales

International work is one of our main priorities. We're growing Amgueddfa Cymru’s international profile with an array of projects and partnerships, so that we can promote our wonderful collections around the world.

Amgueddfa Cymru plays a crucial role in promoting a positive image of Wales. At any one time, hundreds of works of art are on loan to museums and galleries across the globe.

Past projects like the Turner to Cezanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection USA tour (2009/10), Smithsonian Folklife Festival (2009) and numerous other ventures benefit Wales as a whole, not just the culture and tourism sectors.

Our website raises the profile of our collections and research by extending the reach to global audiences and creating a presence for Wales on the world stage.

If you would like to get involved in promoting Amgueddfa Cymru overseas, contact

Heledd Fychan

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