Renaissance masterpieces on show in Beijing

The masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance are now on show for all to enjoy at the National Museum of China!

The exhibition features a rare glimpse of the works of Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael -- the trinity of the Renaissance period. For many of the pieces, it's the first time they've ever been exhibited outside of Italy.

67 exhibits from all over Italy are featured at the exhibition.

The self-portrait of the artist Raphael is one of the highlights.

　　Chen Lvsheng, Curator of National Museum of China, said, "Many of these paintings can't even be seen by the public in Florence. What's more extraordinary is that a lot of these works are murals, and they've had to be carefully and professionally removed from where they're normally kept in order to be shown here. We've gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of the exhibition. "

Another masterpiece on display is a painting by Sandro Botticelli, an Italian painter of the early Renaissance. The painting depicts the biblical story of Mary's encounter with an angel. It was damaged in the 17th century and restored in the 1920s. This is the first time it's gone on public display anywhere in the world.

The pieces will be on display until April 30th, 2013. Giving the public plenty of time to get a rare glimpse of these precious Renaissance masterpieces.