Pompeian wall-paintings to be exhibited in Taiwan

From Focus Taiwan:

Rare frescos from the Louvre to be exhibited in Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) A rare collection of fresco wall paintings from the Louvre will be among 100 works from seven French museums that will go on display in Taipei from Saturday, the National Palace Museum (NPM) said Thursday.

The exhibition, titled "Western Mythology and Legends: Selected Works from the Louvre Collection," will feature ancient Greek pottery, frescoes from the ancient city of Pompeii, and 16th to 19th century paintings and sculptures, NMP officials said at a press conference.

"It is the first time that the set of nine frescoes depicting Apollo and the Muses from Pompeii will be exhibited in Taiwan," said NPM Director Chou Kung-shin.

Frescoes are valuable because they are difficult to preserve, said Chou. The set of nine works has the highest insurance value of all the objects on loan, which total NT$3.3 billion (US$110.35 million) in insurance value.

The frescoes, dating back to the first century, were unearthed in Pompeii in 1755 and were given as a diplomatic gift by Ferdinand IV of Naples to Napoleon I of France, who later gave them to his wife Empress Josephine. 

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