The Recluses

Talk story about a visit to the Metropolitan Museum's elegant new Chinese galleries. The galleries, which were financed by the Dillon Fund, are wrapped around 3 sides of the new Astor Court, a reconstruction of a Ming-dynasty scholar's retreat that includes a cold-spring pavillion, a moon-viewing terrace, and a garden. The central gallery contains Ming hardwood furniture and the side galleries display about 80 Chinese paintings, ranging in date from the 8th to the 18th centuries. Writer viewed the paintings with the aid of Professor Wen Fong, a tall, ebullient professor at Princeton, who has played a major role in helping the museum assemble the present collection. He says that the development of art in China was linked to the political changes taking place there. A work by the 14th century painter Ni Tsan, "Woods and Valleys of Mount Yu," embodies the change in style that occurred when the scholar-officials who replaced the hereditary aristocracy as the dominant forde in government began to paint for their private amusement. Professor Fong explains that during turbulent times painting and poetry could serve as a psychological release for many wealthy and cultivated men. They look at examples by Mi Wan-chung and Kung Hsien.

See the rest of the story at newyorker.com