Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five

Ruan Zude Chinese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 215

This portrait was made to celebrate the eighty-fifth birthday of the sitter, who is identified in the inscription as the artist’s great granduncle Yizhai. Portraits of couples were sometimes made on milestone birthdays of the husband; while the couple lived, the paintings allowed the family to celebrate them, and after their deaths the images could be repurposed for ritual veneration. The features of the man in this portrait are beautifully characterized—his high cheekbones, pursed lips, and gentle gaze communicate a sense of kindness and the wisdom of age.

#7609. Portrait of the Artist's Great-Granduncle Yizhai at the Age of Eighty-Five

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Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five, Ruan Zude (Chinese, 16th or early 17th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China

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Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five, Ruan Zude (Chinese, 16th or early 17th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five, Ruan Zude (Chinese, 16th or early 17th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five, Ruan Zude (Chinese, 16th or early 17th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five, Ruan Zude (Chinese, 16th or early 17th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China
Portrait of the artist’s great-granduncle Yizhai at the age of eighty-five, Ruan Zude (Chinese, 16th or early 17th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, China

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