Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Rhinoceros and Groom
Not on view
Excessive hunting led to the near extinction of the rhinoceros in Han-dynasty China, occasioning their importation from southeast Asia. The anatomical accuracy of the present example indicates that the artist must have modeled his work after a living animal. This rhinoceros, accompanied by a stout, broad-faced groom, formed part of a sculpted menagerie of rare and exotic animals excavated from the tomb of Prince Liu Fei, reflecting not only the prince’s luxurious lifestyle but also the reach of the empire’s influence far beyond its borders.
#212. Rhino and groom
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