Prophet David Photo: Courtesy of China Cultural Tourism and Creativity

The Meet Raphael: Masterpieces from Renaissance to Neoclassicism exhibition kicked off at Beijing's Guardian Art Center on Friday to introduce the Italian master's talent and influences to visitors. It, hosted by the China Cultural Tourism and Creativity company and the Guardian Art Center, is not only an important event marking the 500th anniversary of Raphael's death, but also a key project for the Road to 2022: Year of Chinese and Italian Culture and Tourism. 

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition seeks to lift people's spirits and promote interest in the fine arts. 

According to Luca Ferrari, Italian ambassador to China, 2021 is an important year for both China and Italy, which just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the bilateral relationship in 2020 and will host the Year of Culture and Tourism between China and Italy in 2022. Ferrari said that he hopes that visitors will enjoy the exhibition and expects Chinese travelers to soon return to Italy to visit. 

The exhibition reviews Raphael's entire life over nine sections including "The prodigious young man" to "The Classic Canon of Raphael and his School of Athens." 

The exhibition, also a part of the Meet You Museum series, is set to run until October 14. Other events in the series at the museum include an immersive exhibition about Dunhuang murals and another featuring 107 ancient Egyptian cultural relics.