On June 18th, the special exhibition "William Morris: Invigorating British Arts and Crafts" opened at the Guangdong Museum. On June 21st, another heavyweight art event, "Art of the Roman Empire: Exhibition of the Ancient Treasures from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples", also commenced at the Guangdong Museum.

Scene of "Art of the Roman Empire: Exhibition of the Ancient Treasures from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples"

Selected exhibits from "Art of the Roman Empire: Exhibition of the Ancient Treasures from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples"

"Acanthus" wallpaper samples (left) and sketch (right) designed by William Morris

It is introduced that the two exhibitions present completely different themes. The former showcases the design masterpieces of British arts and crafts masters from over a hundred years ago, while the latter focuses on Western archaeology.　

The exhibition hall of "William Morris: Invigorating British Arts and Crafts" is predominantly themed in a soft green color. It is complemented with natural patterns such as flowers and grass, creating a particularly refreshing and pleasing atmosphere.

The exhibition will run until October 30th and is presented in collaboration between the Guangdong Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design. This exhibition features iconic pieces such as William Morris's "Strawberry Thief" furniture textiles and woodblock prints, "Acanthus" wallpaper samples, Charles Voysey's "Owl" wallpaper and textile designs, and William De Morgan's designed pottery. These significant exhibits span pattern design, textiles, furniture, household items, books, jewelry, and more, showcasing the rich British lifestyle from over a century ago.

"Art of the Roman Empire: Exhibition of the Ancient Treasures from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples" features a total of 98 sets of artifacts from the Roman Empire period.

The entire exhibition covers topics such as "Artistic Language," "Portraits," "Colors," "Fashion," "Banquets," "Techniques," and more, providing a comprehensive exploration of the art from the Roman Empire period.

It is introduced that the 98 sets of representative artifacts from the Roman Empire period on display are all from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. This museum is located in the Campania region of southern Italy and was established in 1777. Due to its richness and uniqueness in archaeological heritage, it is regarded as one of the oldest and most important archaeological museums in the world.

Around 2,000 years ago, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying several ancient Roman cities such as Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae under volcanic ash. These cities remained hidden until archaeologists began excavating them in the mid-18th century. A wealth of artifacts unearthed from these sites were subsequently collected and housed in the nearby National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Through viewing this exhibition, visitors can gain a vivid and in-depth understanding of the art and life during the Roman Empire period.