Landscapes Clear and Radiant: The Art of Wang Hui (1632–1717)
September 9, 2008–January 4, 2009 Galleries for Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, 2nd floor, north wing
Wang Hui, the most celebrated painter of late 17th-century China, played a key role in reinvigorating past traditions of landscape painting as well as in establishing the stylistic foundations for the imperially sponsored art of the Manchu Qing court. An artist of protean talent and immense artistic ambition, Wang developed an all-embracing synthesis of historical landscape styles that constituted one of the greatest innovations in the arts of late imperial China. The exhibition features 27 masterpieces by Wang Hui from the Taipei and Beijing Palace Museums, the Shanghai Museum, and several North American collections, including five outstanding works from the Metropolitan's permanent collection. These 27 paintings are complemented by a selection of earlier landscapes from the Song (960–1279), Yuan (1279–1368), and Ming (1368–1644) dynasties, mostly drawn from the Museum’s holdings, that highlight the sources of Wang Hui’s inspiration.
An overview of the exhibition by Metropolitan Museum curator Maxwell Hearn.
Our YouTube channel features a wide variety of videos, including behind-the-scenes footage and curatorial talks.
The exhibition is made possible by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation.
The catalogue is made possible by the Joseph Hotung Fund and The Dillon Fund.
