The Chimei Museum () is a private museum established in 1992 by Shi Wen-long of Chi Mei Corporation in Rende District,

Tainan Tainan (), officially Tainan City, is a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in southern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on its western coast. Tainan is the oldest city on the island and commonly called the "Taiwan Prefecture, ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. The museum's collection is divided into five categories:

Fine art In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts) is made primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from popular art, decorative art or applied art, which also either serve some practical function (such as ...

s (including painting, sculpture,

decorative arts ] The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose aim is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. This includes most of the objects for the interiors of buildings, as well as interior design, but typically excl ...

and period furniture);

Musical instruments A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...

; Natural history and fossils;

Arms Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons **Fi ...

and

armor Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, e ...

;

Antiquities Antiquities are objects from antiquity, especially the civilizations of the Mediterranean such as the Classical antiquity of Greece and Rome, Ancient Egypt, and the other Ancient Near Eastern cultures such as Ancient Persia (Iran). Artifact ...

and artifacts. The museum is known for housing the world's largest

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

collection and for its significant collections of ancient

weapons A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder), law ...

and sculptures.

Forbes magazine ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The c ...

, in its February 1996 article on private collectors in Asia, called the Chimei Museum "one of the world's most surprising art collections." The museum moved to its current venue on Wenhua Road in 2014, and it is open to the public except on designated days.

Background

The museum was first established and housed in an administration building of the Chi Mei Corporation in 1992 by the company's founder Shi Wen-long, then relocated to the Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2014, and reopened in 2015. Shi is known for his collection of antique

s housed in the museum. Besides being an entrepreneur, Shi is also an amateur violinist who has performed in public many times. To improve the level of

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...

and

western art The art of Europe, also known as Western art, encompasses the history of visual art in Europe. European prehistoric art started as mobile Upper Paleolithic rock and cave painting and petroglyph art and was characteristic of the period bet ...

in Taiwan, he founded the Chi Mei Culture Foundation in 1977 and has been providing scholarships through the Chimei Arts Award to developing artists in both classical music and fine arts since 1988. Born in 1928 during wartime to a family of 10 children, Shi found escape at a "small local museum in Tainan." He later founded Chi Mei Museum in 1992 with the idea of building a museum for all, especially the underprivileged and those "who don't have a chance to travel and see museums abroad."

Building

The museum was designed by

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

Tsai Yi-cheng based on a design brief that it inspire a cultural renaissance by incorporating the best of western culture. Because of this the museum has a large number of

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

pilaster In architecture, a pilaster is both a load-bearing section of thickened wall or column integrated into a wall, and a purely decorative element in classical architecture which gives the appearance of a supporting column and articulates an ext ...

s, and

column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member ...

s. It is energy efficient and has a LEED Silver rating. The museum's main building cost NT$2 billion to build. The museum has a complete

luthier A luthier ( ; ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments. Etymology The word ' is originally French and comes from ''luth'', the French word for "lute". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be ...

's workshop to support the instrument collection.

Exhibitions

The museum has several exhibition areas, including

fine art In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts) is made primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from popular art, decorative art or applied art, which also either serve some practical function (such as ...

natural history Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

and

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...

s, arms and armour, musical instruments, and sculptures. The museum has a collection of European paintings from the 13th to the 20th century, presenting the development of western art. The historic weapon exhibition presents weapons from prehistoric time, the

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

, the

Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...

to modern times. The collection features few artifacts from Taiwan or areas close to it as the main idea of the collection is to allow Taiwanese people to see

artwork A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...

and pieces that they otherwise would have to travel a long way and spend a lot of money to see. The museum's founder grew up disadvantaged and wants to ensure that local children can be inspired by global culture even if their families do not have the resources to travel extensively. File:Interiors of the Chi Mei Museum-27.2023-07-14.jpg, Fine arts File:An Italian Neapolitan Ormolu-mounted, Vernis Martin and Gilded Wood Sedan Chair. 2023-07-14.jpg, An Italian Neapolitan Ormolu-mounted, Vernis Martin and Gilded Wood Sedan Chair File:Interiors of the Chi Mei Museum-36.2023-07-14.jpg,

Clock A clock or chronometer is a device that measures and displays time. The clock is one of the oldest Invention, human inventions, meeting the need to measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units such as the day, the lunar month, a ...

s File:Interiors of the Chi Mei Museum-25.2023-07-14.jpg,

Household silver Household silver or silverware (the silver, the plate, or silver service) includes tableware, cutlery, and other household items made of sterling silver, silver gilt, Britannia silver, or Sheffield plate silver. Silver is sometimes bought in ...

Musical instruments

Wen-Long Shi, the founder of the museum, was an amateur

violinist The following lists of violinists are available: * List of classical violinists * List of contemporary classical violinists * List of jazz violinists * List of popular music violinists * List of Indian violinists * List of Persian violinists * Li ...

and the Museum's collection began as his own personal collection. The museum collects musical instruments of historical significance, in particular violins and other string instruments by

Antonio Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinisation of names, Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', a ...

Guarneri del Gesù Bartolomeo Giuseppe "del Gesù" Guarneri (, , ; 21 August 1698 – 17 October 1744) was an Italian luthier from the Guarneri family of Cremona. He rivals Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737) with regard to the respect and reverence accorded his inst ...

Jacob Stainer Jacob Stainer (–1683) was the earliest and best known Austrian and Germanic luthier. His violins were sought after by famous 17th- and 18th-century musicians and composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and . Arcangelo ...

, Amati, Rogeri, Joseph Guarneri Filius Andrea, Vincenzo Rugeri, Seraphin, Gagliano, Guadagnini and other famous artisans. The collection is noted for the Guarneri del Gesù "

Ole Bull Ole Bornemann Bull (; 5 February 181017 August 1880) was a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer. According to Robert Schumann, he was on a level with Niccolò Paganini for the speed and clarity of his playing. Biography Background Bull was ...

" violin of 1744, which is believed to be the last work of the famed artisan. , the museum houses more than 1,370 violins and has allowed more than 3,000 violinists to borrow from the collection, with more than 220 violins out on loan. The museum loans the antique instruments to distinguished musicians free of charge. In 1999,

Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma (born October 7, 1955) is a French-born American Cello, cellist. Born to Chinese people, Chinese parents in Paris, he was regarded as a child prodigy there and began to study the cello with his father at age four. At the age of seven, ...

borrowed the '' Pawle Stradivarius'' cello for a concert in

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

. In 2015, Yu-Chien Tseng won the silver prize (no gold prize was awarded) at the 15th

International Tchaikovsky Competition The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia, for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 32 years of age and singers between 19 and 32 years of ...

with the '' Castelbarco-Tarisio Guarnerius'' violin from the museum. the collection was the world's largest.

Notable instruments

* Viotti Stradivarius

Artworks

* ''The Madonna of Humility'' - Paolo di Giovanni Fei (Italy, 1345–1411) * ''Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me'' -

Lucas Cranach the Younger Lucas Cranach the Younger (, ; 4 October 1515 – 25 January 1586) was a German Renaissance painter and portraitist, the son of Lucas Cranach the Elder and brother of Hans Cranach. Life and career Lucas Cranach the Younger was born in Wittenber ...

(Germany, 1515–1586) Two Cyclists

* ''Saint Martin and the Beggar'' -

El Greco Doménikos Theotokópoulos (, ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco (; "The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance, regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. ...

(Spain, 1540/50-1614) * ''Charity'' - Jacques Blanchard (France, 1630–1638) * ''The Last Tears'' - Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña (France, 1807–1876) * ''Charity'' -

Friedrich von Amerling Friedrich Ritter von Amerling (14 April 1803 – 14 January 1887) was an Austrian portrait painter in the court of Franz Joseph I of Austria, Franz Josef. He was born in Vienna and was court painter between 1835 and 1880. With Ferdinand Georg ...

(Austria, 1803–1887) * ''The Blessing of the Wheat'' -

Jules Breton Jules Adolphe Aimé Louis Breton (; 1 May 1827 – 5 July 1906) was a 19th-century French Naturalism (arts), naturalist Painting, painter. His paintings are heavily influenced by the French countryside and his absorption of traditional methods ...

(France 1827–1906) * ''Two Cyclists'' - Yevgeniy Prokopov (Ukraine, 1950), Nikolay Oleinik (Ukraine, 1953-2014). Image:Pierre Auguste Cot-Dionisa-1870.jpg, Pierre Auguste Cot ''Dionysia'' (1870) File:Seignac Guillaume the awakening of Psyche.JPG, Guillaume Seignac ''The Awakening of Psyche'' File:Gustave Caillebotte - La femme à la rose.jpg,

Gustave Caillebotte Gustave Caillebotte (; 19 August 1848 – 21 February 1894) was a French painter who was a member and patron of the Impressionists, although he painted in a more Realism (arts), realistic manner than many others in the group. Caillebotte was kno ...

''La femme à la rose'' File:Four Allegories of Music 1871-1873 Hans Makart.jpg, Hans Makart ''Four Allegories of Music'' (1871-1873) File:Edouard Dantan A Casting from Life.jpg, Édouard Joseph Dantan ''A Casting from Life'' File:Adriaen Coorte - Still life with a spray of gooseberries.jpg, Adriaen Coorte ''Still life with a spray of gooseberries'' File:Portrait of the Artist by Michel Martin Drolling 1819.png, Michel Martin Drolling ''Portrait of the artist''

Reproductions from the museum

The museum has offered reproductions such as canvas posters, simulating sculptures made from bonded marble powder, stationery items and many classic CD recordings performed by top Taiwanese musicians on the rare instruments from the Chi Mei Collection since 1997. The museum has also published the hardcover book "Chi-Mei Collection of Fine Violins" featuring 15 world-famous string instruments made by the Italian violin makers of the 17th century. Through the Shining Collection in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, one can inquire about and purchase these reproductions. A replica of

Bassin d'Apollo Le Bassin d'Apollon (The Apollo Basin), also called the Fountain of Apollo or the Apollo Fountain, is a fountain in the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, France. Charles Le Brun designed the centerpiece depicting the Greek god Apollo rising fr ...

greets the visitors at the museum entrance. The same-scale replica was unveiled in 2014. The museum commissioned French artist Gills Perrault in 2008 to reproduce the Fountain of Apollo, same as the one in

Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

. It took three years for modern laser measuring and the plaster mold to be made in France for the reproduction sculpture, and another three years to carve the marbles in the city of

Carrara Carrara ( ; ; , ) is a town and ''comune'' in Tuscany, in central Italy, of the province of Massa and Carrara, and notable for the white or blue-grey Carrara marble, marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some Boxing the compass, ...

, Italy.

Location and hours

The museum address is: No. 66, Section 2, Wenhua Rd., Rende District, Tainan, Taiwan. The museum is open to the public from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and it is closed on Wednesdays and other designated days.

Transportation

The museum is accessible within walking distance from Bao'an Station of the Taiwan Railways.

References

External links

Official Website

Museum Virtual Tour
*
Chimei Culture Foundation, from passion to museum
{{authority control CHIMEI Group 1997 establishments in Taiwan Art museums and galleries in Taiwan Decorative arts museums Museums established in 1997 Museums in Tainan Music museums Musical instrument museums Music organizations based in Taiwan