This exhibition, which is co-organized by World Art Museum, Shanghai Art Museum, Hunan Provincial Museum, Guangdong Museum of Art and Pérez Simón Foundation, will be on display in Guangzhou from November 28th to Feburary 8th, 2009.

All of these one hundreds masterpieces, which cover works of the most popular movements and schools in 19th century, including classicism, romanism, realism, impressionism, pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, are on their first journey to China.

According to days and content, they're categorized into four parts: Classicism and Classical Figure; Romanism and Reminiscence; Symphony of Light and Color; Hymn to Labor.

The value of these masterpieces is no less than the collections of Louvre, British Museum or Metropolitan Museum. They are works of the most prestigious artists in 19th century. Just to name a few: Leighton, Rossetti, Turner, Corot, Millet, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Tissot, Munch, Zorn, etc.

However, these paintings are not as well-known. It is partly due to the fact that all of them were purchased by private collectors before their value were recognized by the public.

These collectors were known for their sensitivity towards new artistic trends. In 1990s, these one hundred pieces were incorporated into the collection of the outstanding Mexican enterpriser Juan Antonio Pérez Simón, one of the most important artwork collectors in America.

Pérez Simón Foundation was founded by Mr. Simón in the early 1990s. It is a non-profit charity organization. It is intended to offer loans to financially challenged families or individuals. It also conducts programs to support the development of Mexico.

Mr. Simón also made use of the generous funding to buttress his project of European art collections. As the biggest non-European private collector, he has not only assembled the great collection, but also shares it with the general public by holding a series of international exhibitions. This has become the biggest concern of Pérez Simón Foundation.

Among his luxuriant collection from Medieval painting to contemporary art, the most inviting part is the paintings and sculptures of 19th ~ 20th century.

In recent years, instead of being kept on the walls of Simóns' residence, these great works are able to be admired by thousands of audiences from all over the world through the exhibitions held by the most remarkable museums and galleries, for instance: Prado Museum in Madrid, National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Museum Ludwig in Köln, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Galerie National du jeu de Paume in Paris, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Palazzo Grassi in Venice, etc. Now, it is arriving Olympic Beijing. It's also their first visit in the Far East.

World Art Museum in Beijing was the first station of this exhibition. According to Mr. Simón's faith, every lover of fine art deserves to admire these masterpieces. After the Beijing-based exhibition, they will continue its journey in another three major cities in China. (Beijing World Art Museum).Venue: Guangdong Museum of Art, Halls 1-4,Abd the time: 2008-11-28~2009-02-08