SEP 2010

VOLUME 41 - NUMBER 6

In this issue, we offer a glimpse of two major exhibitions - both of which explore the artistic and archaeological legacies of Chinese emperors - opening in the US this autumn. In his introduction to 'The World of Khubilai Khan: Chinese Art in the Yuan Dynasty' at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, James Watt gives an overview of art in Yuan period China. Zhixin Jason Sun traces the archaeological legacy of the Mongol capital of Dadu. Denise Patry Leidy looks at the flourishing tradition of lacquer and Birgitta Augustin discusses representations of the Eight Immortals during this period.

Some ninety works of art from the Qianlong emperor's retirement district are on public view for the first time in 'The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City', starting at the Peabody Essex Museum, and moving to the Met and the Milwaukee Art Museum. Wang Shilin, Liu Chang and Henry Ng update us on the Qianlong Garden conservation programme, while Nancy Berliner takes us on a tour of the garden. Luo Wenhua introduces an important screen depicting Guanxiu's Sixteen Arhats, and Wang Zilin interprets the symbolism of four trompe-l'oeil paintings.

Janice Katz introduces the new Japanese Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago, made possible through the support of Roger L. Weston, whom we interview on his passion for Japanese art.

We also have previews of autumn exhibitions in New York, London and Paris, and reviews of spring auctions in the UK, Hong Kong, Beijing and the US. Cole Roskam comments on the Shanghai World Expo with reference to past World's Fairs.

FEATURES
Janice Katz. The Roger L. and Pamela Weston Wing: Transforming Japanese Art at the Art Institute of Chicago
Wang Zilin. Four Trompe-l'oeil Paintings in the Qianlong Garden
Luo Wenhua. Screen Paintings of Guanxiu's Sixteen Arhats in the Collection of the Palace Museum
Nancy Berliner. Compositional Origins of an Imperial Microcosm
The Qianlong Garden: A New Paradigm for Conservation
Birgitta Augustin. Eight Daoist Immortals in the Yuan Dynasty: Note on the Origin of the Group and its Iconography
Denise Patry Leidy. Lacquer: A Chinese Tradition Under Mongol Rule
Zhixin Jason Sun. Dadu: The Great Capital of Khubilai Khan
James C. Y. Watt. Apologia for an Exhibition
PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
Fair Preview: XXVth Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris
INTERVIEWS
Interview with Roger L. Weston
NEWS
James Godfrey. Obituary: Catherine Halff Edson (1938-2010)
COMMENTARY
Cole Roskam. Commentary: A World's Fair for China