The Century of Tung Ch'i-ch'ang 1555-1636

Our view of Chinese painting has been shaped by Tung Ch'i-ch'ang's art historical writings, and his influence can be seen in the work of the painters and calligraphers who followed him. It is thus surprising that Tung--calligrapher, painter, art connoisseur, and government official--is less well known today in China and elsewhere than the Sung and Yuan masters who preceded him. This scholarly set is the catalog of a major exhibition of the painting and calligraphy of Tung and his followers that travels to Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York in 1992-93. Interested lay readers can enjoy reading the account of Tung's life and looking at the plates, but most of the essays--three of which are in Chinese--will be of greater interest to specialists.

- Kathryn W. Finkelstein, M.Ln., Cincinnati