“A Chinese Passion”, the exhibition coming to the Louvre Museum from May 14 to August 25, 2025, will present more than 170 Chinese works from the collections of Adolphe Thiers. Installed on the Napoléon mezzanine, this retrospective will highlight the richness of Chinese art from the 18th and 19th centuries, including porcelain, prints and imperial treasures.
A Chinese passionthe exhibition organized at Louvre Museumoffers us a fascinating dive into the little-known collection ofAdolphe Thiersjournalist and politician of the 19th century. A great enthusiast of Chinese art, Thiers collected books, documents and art objects, offering a unique testimony to the aesthetics and cultural themes of imperial China. More than 170 works will be exhibited, including porcelainof the jadesof the lacquers and an exceptional imperial roll, the Qingming Shanghe Tumade for the emperor Qianlong.
The visit will open in two parts. The first paints the portrait of Adolphe Thiers, a leading political figure but also an informed collector, fascinated by Chinese art and books retracing the history of this country. The second, the heart of the exhibition, will immerse us in the major themes of its collection: landscapes, architecture, costumes, but also spiritual traditions such as Buddhismthe Taoism and the Confucianism.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is an exceptional imperial scroll from Qingming Shanghe Tumade for the emperor Qianlongwhich finely illustrates the richness of Chinese art during the Qing dynasty. Thiers, a true enthusiast, collected these works while seeking to understand and share their historical and cultural context.
This exhibition is a unique opportunity to discover often little-known treasures of the Louvrewhile rediscovering Adolphe Thiers from a new angle, that of a lover of art and Chinese culture. A Chinese passion invites us on a journey between diplomacy, art and personal passion, through objects of rare beauty and major historical importance.
To discover this exhibition, go to the Napoléon mezzanine of Louvre Museum between the May 14 and August 25, 2025. Entrance is included in the museum ticket, allowing you to explore the Louvre’s other masterpieces as well.
