Wednesday 25 November 2015

The Art of Princely Courts in Fifteenth-Century China

When:

Where:
Royal Taste offers a unique glimpse into the luxurious lifestyles and religious practices of princely courts in early- and mid-Ming China (1368-1644). Organized by The Ringling, this exhibition of more than 140 works of pictorial, sculptural, and decorative arts reveals some lesser-known aspects of palatial lives, religious patronage, and afterlife beliefs of Ming princes, whose world has long been a mystery. The quality of craftsmanship and beauty of design testifies to the richness and sophistication of the art and culture of the nobility in the provinces.
The majority of the objects on view were selected from recent archaeological finds now in the collections of four museums in the Hubei province in China, and from imperially-commissioned statues housed at Daoist temples on Mount Wudang, the birthplace of Tai Chi. Through these important loans—all of which are traveling to the US for the first time—the exhibition provides a more complete understanding of the visual and religious worlds of Ming princes and demonstrates the vital role of their courts in shaping Ming material culture. 
Please Note: This exhibiton is accompanied by QR codes that you may scan with your smartphone for more in-depth information related to gallery highlights or you may Click here to learn more about this exhibtion.
Circular carving from the side zhaobi screen at Zhoufu an
16th century
Limestone
Wudang Museum
周府庵石雕照壁盒子

Stem cup with cover and holder
1437
Porcelain, gold lid, and silt silver stand
Excavated from the tomb of Prince Zhuang of
Liang, Zhongxiang, 2001
Hubei Provincial Museum
金鍾, 金鍾蓋, 銀鎏金托盤

Dai Jin (1388–1462)
Reading a Scroll under a Pine Tree
15th century
Hanging scroll, gold and ink on silk
Hubei Provincial Museum
戴進 松下讀書圖


Model for acupuncture and moxibustion instruction
16th century
Bronze with gold
Hubei Provincial Museum
針灸銅人立像



Statue of the Celestial Worthy of the Great Unity, Savior from Suffering
15th century
Gilt bronze
Wudang Museum
銅鎏金太乙救苦天尊


建文元年山簡
Inscribed slip (1st year of the Jianwen Reign)
1399
Stone, L. 11. in. (28.5 cm), W. 2⅞ in. (7.2 cm),
H. ⅓ in. (0.8 cm)
Wudang Museum

1 comment:

shiningshell said...

beautiful and exquisite artifacts!