Royal letters inspire journey through Thai arts at Bangkok museum

The exhibition will showcase antiques and art pieces featured in “San Somdet” (Royal Letters) – a record of the correspondence between Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs and Prince Damrong Rajanubhab between the years 1914 and 1943.

The letters cover numerous topics, including history, archaeology, literature, museums, music and dance. The department will illustrate them in an exhibition of more than 300 antiques and art pieces, as well as multimedia presentations.

The exhibits will be gathered under categories to illustrate the relationship the princes enjoyed with each kind of art.

Prince Damrong Rajanubhab was the half-brother of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and is known as the father of modern Thai education. He became the first Thai to feature on Unesco’s list of the world's most distinguished persons.

Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs was son of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and known as “the great craftsman of Siam” for his love of the arts and architecture. He was enshrined by Unesco as a Person of International Importance in 1963, on the centenary of his birth.