On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Lady reclining over an incense cage
Chen Hongshou Chinese
Incense burners in the form of geese or ducks were not only items on the desks of literati but also accoutrements of a lady’s room. Surrounded by luxurious bronze vases and an ornate bird stand, the central lady in this scroll holds her sleeves over a bamboo basket to catch the aromatic scent ascending from a duck-shaped incense burner. Turning away from the young boy in the foreground, she raises her chin and looks affectionately to a jade-green pet parrot. The fluid, fine lines, delicate color, and sumptuous interior evoke a sensual languor that distinguishes Chen Hongshou’s figural paintings from those of others.
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