Portrait of husband and wife

Unidentified artist

Not on view

A married couple sits on a low, backless couch in an elegant and opulent garden setting. Around them is a virtual anthology of auspicious images: the arching pine that frames the image evokes long life; the red-crowned crane longevity and marital fidelity; the bamboo hardiness; the plum blossom new life; and so on. This double portrait was probably commissioned for a special occasion such as a milestone birthday. After the death of the sitters, descendants may have venerated it in the family shrine.

Portrait of husband and wife, Unidentified artist , Chinese, late 18th–early 19th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China

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Portrait of husband and wife, Unidentified artist , Chinese, late 18th–early 19th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Portrait of husband and wife, Unidentified artist , Chinese, late 18th–early 19th century, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China

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