Palaces of the Immortals
Xu Yang was recruited as a court painter in 1751 and became one of the Qianlong Emperor’s leading artists, culminating with his being selected in 1764 to execute the Qianlong Southern Inspection Tour. This intimate fan painting shows Xu working in a miniaturist style and a decorative blue-and-green technique that differs markedly from his typically grand imperial commissions. According to the artist’s long inscription, Xu was commanded by the emperor to paint this work as a birthday gift to a Mr. Li.
Fanciful images of Daoist paradises were suitably auspicious subjects for birthday gifts. Using the archaic blue-and-green landscape style, Xu demonstrates his mastery of this mode with dense mineral colors accented with gold highlights and detailed renderings of architectural forms.
Fanciful images of Daoist paradises were suitably auspicious subjects for birthday gifts. Using the archaic blue-and-green landscape style, Xu demonstrates his mastery of this mode with dense mineral colors accented with gold highlights and detailed renderings of architectural forms.
Artwork Details
- 清 徐揚 仙山樓閣圖 扇面
- Title: Palaces of the Immortals
- Artist: Xu Yang (Chinese, active ca. 1750–after 1776)
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
- Date: dated 1753
- Culture: China
- Medium: Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink, color, and gold on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 6 1/4 x 18 1/2 in. (15.9 x 47 cm)
Sheet: 15 × 24 1/2 in. (38.1 × 62.2 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Purchase, The B. D. G. Leviton Foundation Gift, in honor of Marie-Hélène and Guy Weill, 2003
- Object Number: 2003.132
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Xu Yang
dated 1770
Xu Yang
dated 1770
Central Tibet
ca. 1700
Tibet or Mongolia
17th century
Gong Xian
1688
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.