The exhibition of private collections offers a chance to break the pattern. There's a preliminary showing in Beijing of an exhibition with the long name of – "From Academia to Impressionism – Masterpieces of the 19th Century European Paintings from the Perez Simon Collection". The showing at Beijing's World Art Museum offers a brisk, idiosyncratic run – through a century of Western painting.

The exhibit represents an eclectic group of styles, subjects and approaches to art.(Photo: CCTV.com)