A landmark art exhibition titled “The Wind of the Great Ocean Across the Steppe: Raphael and Bernini” opened Wednesday at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum in Ulaanbaatar, bringing iconic Italian masterpieces to Mongolia for the first time.

Jointly organized by the Chinggis Khaan National Museum of Mongolia and the Borghese Gallery of Rome, the exhibition marks the first time these works are being displayed anywhere in Asia. It features a portrait attributed to High Renaissance master Raphael Sanzio and a small bronze edition of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s celebrated marble sculpture "Neptune and Triton."

The exhibition explores the concept of power through contrasting artistic expressions. Raphael’s piece conveys strength through composure, symmetry, and inner peace, while Bernini’s work embodies power through fluid motion, physical intensity, and outward energy. The museum’s spatial design guides visitors on a sensory transition from the dramatic dynamism of the Baroque period into the quiet contemplation of the Renaissance.

"We named this exhibition the Wind of the Great Ocean Across the Steppe to symbolize the historic arrival of artistic masterpieces originating from the shores of the great ocean into the vast Mongolian steppes for the first time. That is why these two magnificent Italian works of art are visiting the homeland of nomads today," said Chuluun Sampildondov, Director of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum.

Chuluun noted that despite being established just four years ago, the museum has rapidly expanded its international reach, including an exhibition in Italy earlier this year that showcased works by the 17th-century renowned sculptor and spiritual leader Undur Gegeen Zanabazar.

Presenting these artworks in Asia for the first time, and specifically in Mongolia, is an extraordinary event. This joint project is a tangible result of professional cooperation between the Chinggis Khaan National Museum and the Borghese Gallery, serving as a vivid expression of cultural relations between Mongolia and Italy.

Professor Francesca Cappelletti, Director of the Borghese Gallery, emphasized the emotional depth of the selected pieces. "Artists of that era sought to capture not just physical appearances, but internal human emotions," Professor Cappelletti said, adding that Bernini's 17th-century innovations in movement continue to resonate across time and borders.

Giovanna Piccarreta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Mongolia, called the exhibition a modern continuation of the legacy of the Silk Road. She noted the initiative stems from bilateral discussions held between the President of Mongolia, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, in December 2025 to deepen cultural ties between the two countries.

"Art remains one of the most effective tools for building cross-border understanding and connecting peoples through shared human values," Ambassador Giovanna Piccarreta said.

The exhibition will remain open to the public through November 1, 2026.

Published Date:2026-10-01