Through Sept. 10, the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco presents “The Forbidden City in Monaco: Court Life of the Emperors and Empresses of China.” This major exhibition offers a richly illustrated survey of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), bringing together more than 250 artifacts from former imperial collections. Many objects are on public display outside the Imperial Palace for the first time. The show is the result of a multiyear collaboration between the Principality of Monaco and the People’s Republic of China and includes loans from major international collections as well as selections from Beijing’s Palace Museum.
Curated by Jean-Paul Desroches, honorary general curator of heritage, and Wang Yuegong, director of the Department of Palace Life and Imperial Ritual at the Palace Museum in Beijing, the exhibition is organized thematically to illuminate life at the imperial court. It begins with material associated with the Manchu Eight Banners Army—uniforms, leather gear and weapons—that illustrates the martial foundations of Qing rule.
Two galleries explore the cosmological theme of Heaven–Earth–Man, showing how emperors used ritual, symbolism and ceremony to express their relationship with the divine Mandate of Heaven. Visitors can also see a carefully reconstructed Throne Room and galleries devoted to emperors and empresses that reveal both public ceremony and private aspects of court life.
Textiles and clothing are a major focus: richly embroidered robes, ceremonial costumes and personal garments demonstrate craftsmanship, social hierarchy and symbolic meaning. Small personal objects, fans, jewelry and grooming tools offer intimate insights into daily routines at court. Decorative screens and painted panels display the refined aesthetic tastes of the palace, while a selection of photographs and works on paper provide documentary views of late-imperial life.
Among the photographic highlights are black-and-white images from 1904 that portray the gardens of Empress Dowager Cixi, a powerful regent from the Manchu Yehenara clan. These rare views help contextualize the living spaces and landscape design that shaped imperial leisure and politics during the final years of the dynasty.
Overall, the exhibition combines ceremonial regalia, military accoutrements, ritual objects, portraits and vernacular items to present a nuanced portrait of Qing court life—its power structures, spiritual foundations and daily practices. By assembling materials from Beijing and major international collections, the show affords a rare opportunity to see how imperial authority, artistic production and personal experience intersected within the Forbidden City.
The Grimaldi Forum’s presentation is designed for a broad audience: clear interpretive panels, thematic groupings and a balance of grand ceremonial pieces with intimate artifacts make the exhibition accessible to visitors with varied interests in history, art and material culture. The show not only showcases exceptional objects but also encourages reflection on the cultural and political forces that shaped China’s last imperial dynasty.
Open until Sept. 10 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, “The Forbidden City in Monaco” is a comprehensive, thoughtfully curated exhibition that illuminates the rituals, regalia and daily life of Qing emperors and empresses through an exceptional selection of museum-quality loans and palace treasures.