Rectangular Box with Scene of a Reception

Rectangular Box with Scene of a Reception

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The scene represented on this box is the arrival of guests at a grand reception. The host and hostess are seated in the reception hall at the upper right of the composition, which resembles that of a traditional Chinese-style horizontal or hanging scroll. A member of the household stands before the hosts, awaiting a messenger carrying a pink calling card. The guests, who are about to cross a stone bridge, are shown in the lower part of the painting. On their way to the reception, the guests will pass a group of musicians playing behind silk curtains. Most of the musical instruments they use are displayed in the case nearby.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rectangular Box with Scene of a ReceptionRectangular Box with Scene of a ReceptionRectangular Box with Scene of a ReceptionRectangular Box with Scene of a ReceptionRectangular Box with Scene of a Reception

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.