Chest with the Expulsion of Hagar

Chest with the Expulsion of Hagar

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This chest's lid is decorated with an unusual portrait of a pope, most likely Sixtus V (r. 1585–90). The Old Testament tale of Abraham's expulsion of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, to appease his barren wife, Sarah, is depicted on the front of the chest. While the composition was based on European prints, the use of a screen for the background adds a Chinese flair.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Chest with the Expulsion of HagarChest with the Expulsion of HagarChest with the Expulsion of HagarChest with the Expulsion of HagarChest with the Expulsion of Hagar

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.