Saint Louis Art Museum: Power and Glory: Court Arts from China's Ming Dynasty

join | shop | give

A 280-page catalogue published by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco accompanies the exhibition. Authored by Asian Art Museum curators He Li and Michael Knight, the illustrated catalogue includes essays by Terese Tse Bartholomew and Richard Vinograd, scholars of Chinese art.

As the last native Chinese dynasty, the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) epitomizes the glories of China's illustrious past. Ming means "bright" in Chinese, and the term could not be more appropriate, since artwork in many mediums achieved true brilliance during this splendid period. Roughly contemporaneous with the European Renaissance, the Ming dynasty is equally a period of innovation and accomplishment, but one whose depth and range has been too seldom explored.

The first capital of the Ming dynasty was in Nanjing. Under the third Ming emperor, the dynastic capital was transferred to Beijing—the "Forbidden City." For the exhibition of extraordinary artworks that this book catalogues, objects were painstakingly selected by Asian Art Museum curators from three leading Chinese museums—the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Nanjing Municipal Museum and the Shanghai Museum—a process that took years to complete. Many of the works chosen are of exceptional rarity and distinction. These works were supplemented by others from the collections of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, one of the largest museums devoted to Asian art in the West. The result is a selection of works that conveys the range and development of Ming court art.

Each of the works is discussed in a detailed entry, while groundbreaking essays, incorporating the most recent scholarship, situate Ming work in several mediums—gold and jade; textiles and costumes; lacquer, wood and bamboo; ceramics; metal and cloissonné; and paintings—in their historical and cultural contexts. Full-color photos of the objects discussed are presented in sufficient scale so that the reader can fully appreciate the details of the works and follow the discussions in the entries. This catalogue is an essential book for anyone who wishes to comprehend the historical development and enduring richness of Chinese court arts.

POWER AND GLORY CATALOGUE

Edited by He Li and Michael Knight with contributions from
Richard Vinograd, Terese Tse Bartholomew and Dany Chan.

Published by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Distributed by Tuttle Publishing
Cover design by Ron Shore of Shore Design, Brisbane, California

280 Pages

ISBN-10: 978-0-939-42-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-939117-43-7

The catalogue is available in the Saint Louis Art Museum Shop.

ATTENDING THE EXHIBITION

Action Abstraction Catalogue

Admission for Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty is $10; $8 for students and seniors; $6 children 6–12; and free for Members and children under 6. The exhibition is free to all every Friday. Timed entry tickets are required. All Museum Member and paid tickets include an audio tour; non-Members can purchase an audio tour for $3 on Fridays.

Group rates are also available. Please call 314.655.5298 for information and availability.

Advance tickets for Power and Glory are highly recommended and are available through MetroTix online at www.metrotix.com and by phone at 314.534.1111. Tickets are also available in person at the Museum. Tickets reserved through MetroTix, including free Friday tickets, will incur at $2.75 service fee per ticket; the service fee is waived for tickets purchased in person at the Museum.

Click Here to Learn More >>

PICTURED WORKS OF ART
(left to right)

Action Abstraction Catalogue

Ornament depicting a lotus pond; green nephrite on a gold mount; 2 3/4 x 2 1/8 inches; Nanjing Municipal Museum

WORK OF ART ON CATALOGUE COVER

Portrait of Prince Zhu Youyuan in Ceremonial Uniform, 1521–1524; Jiajing period (1522–1566); hanging scroll, colors on silk; 94 x 44 1/2 inches; Palace Museum, Beijing

One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380

Telephone 314.721.0072

	join \| shop \| give

	Home About Tickets Programs Catalogue Resources Audio Tour
	A 280-page catalogue published by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco accompanies the exhibition. Authored by Asian Art Museum curators He Li and Michael Knight, the illustrated catalogue includes essays by Terese Tse Bartholomew and Richard Vinograd, scholars of Chinese art. As the last native Chinese dynasty, the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) epitomizes the glories of China's illustrious past. Ming means "bright" in Chinese, and the term could not be more appropriate, since artwork in many mediums achieved true brilliance during this splendid period. Roughly contemporaneous with the European Renaissance, the Ming dynasty is equally a period of innovation and accomplishment, but one whose depth and range has been too seldom explored. The first capital of the Ming dynasty was in Nanjing. Under the third Ming emperor, the dynastic capital was transferred to Beijing—the "Forbidden City." For the exhibition of extraordinary artworks that this book catalogues, objects were painstakingly selected by Asian Art Museum curators from three leading Chinese museums—the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Nanjing Municipal Museum and the Shanghai Museum—a process that took years to complete. Many of the works chosen are of exceptional rarity and distinction. These works were supplemented by others from the collections of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, one of the largest museums devoted to Asian art in the West. The result is a selection of works that conveys the range and development of Ming court art. Each of the works is discussed in a detailed entry, while groundbreaking essays, incorporating the most recent scholarship, situate Ming work in several mediums—gold and jade; textiles and costumes; lacquer, wood and bamboo; ceramics; metal and cloissonné; and paintings—in their historical and cultural contexts. Full-color photos of the objects discussed are presented in sufficient scale so that the reader can fully appreciate the details of the works and follow the discussions in the entries. This catalogue is an essential book for anyone who wishes to comprehend the historical development and enduring richness of Chinese court arts. POWER AND GLORY CATALOGUE Edited by He Li and Michael Knight with contributions from Richard Vinograd, Terese Tse Bartholomew and Dany Chan. Published by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Distributed by Tuttle Publishing Cover design by Ron Shore of Shore Design, Brisbane, California 280 Pages ISBN-10: 978-0-939-42-0 ISBN-13: 978-0-939117-43-7 The catalogue is available in the Saint Louis Art Museum Shop. ATTENDING THE EXHIBITION Admission for Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty is $10; $8 for students and seniors; $6 children 6–12; and free for Members and children under 6. The exhibition is free to all every Friday. Timed entry tickets are required. All Museum Member and paid tickets include an audio tour; non-Members can purchase an audio tour for $3 on Fridays. Group rates are also available. Please call 314.655.5298 for information and availability. Advance tickets for Power and Glory are highly recommended and are available through MetroTix online at www.metrotix.com and by phone at 314.534.1111. Tickets are also available in person at the Museum. Tickets reserved through MetroTix, including free Friday tickets, will incur at $2.75 service fee per ticket; the service fee is waived for tickets purchased in person at the Museum. Click Here to Learn More >> PICTURED WORKS OF ART (left to right) Ornament depicting a lotus pond; green nephrite on a gold mount; 2 3/4 x 2 1/8 inches; Nanjing Municipal Museum WORK OF ART ON CATALOGUE COVER Portrait of Prince Zhu Youyuan in Ceremonial Uniform, 1521–1524; Jiajing period (1522–1566); hanging scroll, colors on silk; 94 x 44 1/2 inches; Palace Museum, Beijing

	One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1380 © 2008 Saint Louis Art Museum \| Terms of Use \| Site Credits \| Contact Form \| Directions Telephone 314.721.0072