Portrait of a Lady
CultureChinese
Date17th century
MediumHanging scroll; ink and colors on silk
DimensionsOverall: 25 1/4 × 48 1/4 inches (64.14 × 122.56 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number35-167
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionPortrait of a senior woman, seated, wearing a dark gray robe over a tan robe with white flowers and holding wooden beads. Lacquered table to left with bronzes.Gallery LabelWith its portrayal of distinctive facial features and confident posture, this painting may be a portrait of a real woman commissioned by her family. Many senior Chinese women wear dark jackets to signify their elder status. The silk floral patterns and the gilt buttons on her jacket glamorize her outfit, highlighting her commanding gaze. The bronze and lacquer vessels behind her, and her casual manner of holding a chain of imperial necklaces, indicate she is from a wealthy family.
Purchased through Laurence Sickman by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1935.
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