Jockey Club-supported exhibition brings 40 masterpieces of Baroque art to Hong Kong for the first time

14/07/2022

A selection of 40 outstanding masterpieces by Italian Baroque artists will be displayed for the first time in Hong Kong at “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Road to the Baroque - Masterpieces from the Capodimonte Museum” exhibition. The works come from the Farnese Collection and the Bourbon Collection of the Capodimonte Museum. The exhibition begins on 15 July at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the exhibition is one of many initiatives supported by the Club’s approved donation of HK$630 million to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.

The exhibition’s opening ceremony was held today (14 July) and officiated by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR Kevin Yeung, the Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong Clemente Contestabile, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Vincent Liu and Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art Dr Maria Mok. Director of the Capodimonte Museum Dr Sylvain Bellenger will also deliver a pre-recorded speech during the ceremony.

The Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung said, “This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for Hong Kong citizens to appreciate masterpieces by renowned artists of Italian Baroque. Together with interactive demonstrations by local artists explaining the stories behind the paintings, and the techniques used in their creation, I have no doubt the exhibition will be well-received. As a supporter of the city’s arts and culture, the Club is dedicated to building a culturally vibrant Hong Kong.”

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to experience the charm and magnificence of Baroque art in the 16th and 17th centuries, including religious, mythological, still life and landscape paintings by legendary masters, such as Titian, Annibale Carracci and Artemisia Gentileschi.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series” is a partnership between the Club and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Launched in 2012, the Series has brought world-class exhibitions to Hong Kong, enabling visitors to appreciate masterpieces from different places, times and cultures. The exhibitions are complemented by a variety of education and outreach activities.

Over the past 25 years, the Club has been able to increase its contribution to the community via its integrated business model. As a world-leader in the sport of horse racing and one of the ten largest charitable donors in the world, the Club is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of our society. Then, now, always, we are together with Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2020/21, the Club returned a total of HK$29.4 billion to the community. This included HK$24.9 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$4.5 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.