Basil Gray's publications introduced Chinese and Islamic art to Europe. This volume covers Chinese painting, its philosophical roots, influence on Japanese and European artists, and its impact on Western visitors and collectors. It also discusses lacquer and metalwork, attributions, and reports on modern Chinese and Japanese museums.
Basil Gray's publications on Chinese and Islamic art have done much to introduce these subjects to a European public. This first volume deals with Chinese painting and luxury art. An introductory section on Chinese art attempts to chart the aesthetic and philosophical ideas that lie at the roots of Chinese culture, and which have succeeded in dictating the development of this highly individual civilization. A second section, on Chinese painting, examines the early development of Chinese scroll painting and its subsequent influence on Japanese and European artists. The influence of Chinese painting on the earliest Western visitors to the court at Peking and on subsequent European collectors is of particular interest. The third section deals with lacquer and metalwork, and includes a number of studies which attempt to answer problems of attribution and influence. The volume concludes with two reports on the museums of modern China and Japan. Contents: Preface Chinese Art Chinese Art as an Expression of Chinese Ideals of Life The Development of Taste in Chinese Art in the West Treasures of Chinese Art: Recent Archaeological Discoveries in the People's Republic of China Sloane and the Kaempfer Collection Lord Burlington and Father Ripa's Engravings The Arts of the Ming Dynasty: Painting, Calligraphy and Printing A Great Taoist Painting A Medieval Japanese Painting of the Twelfth Century Chinese Colour Prints from the Ten Bamboo Studio (review) Castiglione, a Jesuit Priest at the Court of the Chinese Emperors (review) The British Museum 'Admonitions Scroll' Attributed to Ku K'ai-chih Admonitions of the Instructress of the Ladies in the Palace: a Painting attributed to Ku K'ai-chih The Eumorfopoulos Lacquer Toilet-box China or D'ong-son A Bronze Lien from Shih-chia-shan The Inlaid Metalwork of Korea Korean Inlaid Lacquer of the Thirteenth Century Museums of China Some New Museums of Japan Additional Notes Index.
