Examining literary giants through brushstrokes

The only known portrait of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), painted from life, is debuting on the Chinese mainland at the National Portrait Gallery exhibition from London.

Taking place at Shanghai Museum East from March 18 to July 13, Writers Revealed: Treasures from British Collections and the National Portrait Gallery, London, features 135 treasured works, including portraits, manuscripts, rare first editions, and more, celebrating 82 literary giants.

It is a landmark exhibition that marks the British institution's debut on the Chinese mainland. "In uniting author portraits with original literary manuscripts and rare first editions, we are presented with new opportunities to examine writers and their works from the last 500 years," writes Victoria Siddall, director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, in her foreword to the exhibition.

It also marks the first time the Shanghai Museum presents an exhibition dedicated to literature, according to Chu Xiaobo, the museum's director. "This exhibition is born from the deep friendship and close cooperation between our museum and the National Portrait Gallery, with invaluable support from many British institutions and private collectors. We hope these cultural treasures, shared by all humanity, will shine with new brilliance in this context of East-West exchange," he said at the opening on March 17.