Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion

Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion

Qian Gong

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Qian Gong worked in Suzhou in the waning years of the Ming dynasty. His depiction of the Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion is unusual in that it is painted on figured damask, silk woven with a pictorial pattern. This type of support is rarely used for paintings because the dueling images of the silk ground and the painting can be difficult for the eye to parse. This piece of silk must have been particularly treasured, as Qian notes in his signature that the painting’s recipient made a special request for him to paint on it.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.