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Ming Huang and Yang Gueifei Listening to Music
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Image © Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Ming Huang and Yang Gueifei Listening to Music

Artist
Dateearly Ming Dynasty (1368–1400)
Mediumink and color on silk
Dimensions30.1 x 131.8 cm (11 7/8 x 51 7/8 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1936.4
DescriptionThe great Tang emperor Ming Huang (reigned CE 712-56) was an outstanding patron of the arts, and music flourished at his court. This subject - women orchestral musicians playing for the emperor and his concubine Yang Gueifei - is known in several versions that go back from Ming through Song (CE 960-1279) to a famous Tang (CE 618-907) painting, or a Five Dynasties (CE 907-60) prototype (now lost). The work illustrated here, which recalls the painting of the Yuan dynasty (1280-1368) court, has features that signal a new interpretation of an older style: sophisticated poses, complex relationships between figures, exquisite calligraphic drawing, and harmonious colors. Three seals affixed to the end of the scene, attributed to Qian Xuan, are modern additions.
Label TextThe beauty of the drawing and the harmony of colors gives distinction to this representation of the great Tang emperor Ming Huang and his concubine Yang-Guei fei listening to the court orchestra of female musicians. Several versions of this composition are extant suggesting that it goes back through Song to a lost but famous Tang or Five Dynasties (907-960) prototype. Although the theme and composition is not original, this work is not merely a copy. The sophisticated poses, complex relationship of figures as well as the exquisite calligraphic drawing--expressionistic brushline of fluctuating thickness--reveal its own time and provide a new interpretation of past styles. The painting had been attributed to Qian Xuan (about 1235-after 11300) on the basis of the two seals. This attribution is unconvincing for the style is wrong; the seals are later additions. The suave fine line and washes of color suggest the Yuan court and early Ming date, rather than the more mannered style of Ming academic figure painting.ProvenanceGeorge Rowley, Princeton NJ
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