The largest ever exhibition of Italian artworks of the 15th and 16th centuries opened on July 7 at the National Museum of China in central Beijing.

Running until April 30 next year, the three-part exhibition, titled Renaissance in Florence: Masterpieces and the protagonists, showcases chronologically the artistic features, urban life and customs of Florence in the time of Renaissance, through 67 selected pieces of oils, temperas, murals, sculptures, sketches and crafts, on loan from nearly 30 public museums, galleries and private collections in Florence.

“The staging of the exhibition is a landmark event in the history of exchanges and collaborations between museums in Italy and China,” said Chen Lusheng, deputy director of the National Museum of China.

Featured master artists who created in Florence in the period from 1492-1540 include Brunelleschi, Donatello, Verrocchio, Beato Angelico, Luca, Andrea della Robbia, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raffaello and Michelangelo, said Italian curator Cristina Acidini.

She believes that the exhibition will help the Chinese public to get a closer look and deeper understanding of Italian art, culture and history.

The exhibition inaugurates an Italian Space for the coming five years at the National Museum of China.

In October 2010, the culture ministers of China and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Cooperation on Cultural Heritage Protection in Rome. One of the important points was to hold five-year-long exhibitions for exchanging works in the national museums of both countries. The current exhibition is the first that has been launched by Italy at China’s top museum.