Step into the world of horses at 'Divine Steeds' exhibition at The Palace Museum.

Step into the world of horses at the ongoing "Divine Steeds" exhibition at The Palace Museum.

One of the most striking works on display is Kan Hu Liu by Giuseppe Castiglione (Chinese name: Lang Shining, 1688-1766). Seeing it in person is a surprise in itself — the hanging scroll is far larger than expected, and the horse's gaze feels almost alive, as if it is quietly meeting the eyes of every visitor standing before it.

The horse, named Kan Hu Liu (Valiant as a Tiger), was once ridden by the Qianlong Emperor, Hongli. Castiglione, an Italian painter who served in the Qing imperial court, helped introduce Western focal perspective techniques into Chinese court painting, creating a unique fusion of artistic traditions.

📍 Exhibition: Divine Steeds: The World of Horses in the Palace Museum's Painting and Calligraphy Collection
🗓 Ongoing until June 21
📸 Photo by Sun Miao