Capturing the ages

Part of a Song Dynasty (960-1279) monochrome facsimile of the Admonitions Scroll offers a good view of the original fourth-century masterpiece by Gu Kaizhi.[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

A painting exhibition at the Palace Museum showcases important figures from ancient China.

They are emperors, sages, officials, wartime heroes and heroines, and others in Chinese history. And, painting is one of the best ways to eulogize them.

In the Hall of Literary Brilliance (Wenhua Dian), the painting gallery at the Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, an exhibition opened on May 1 to showcase important Chinese figures through 55 ancient artworks.

On Paragons of the Nation: Figure Paintings From Across the Ages in the Palace Museum Collection, which runs through June, many exhibits are newly shown.

The Forbidden City was China's imperial palace from 1420 to 1911, and the paintings were collected by the ruling royal families.