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Overview
Chinese painting, sculpture, ceramics, and other art have gradually become familiar to many Western viewers, but calligraphy, the art most valued in China, remains little known. The Embodied Image accompanies an exhibition of one of the most outstanding and comprehensive collections of Chinese calligraphy ever assembled outside Asia, the John B. Elliott Collection at The Art Museum, Princeton University. Encompassing works of calligraphy from the fourth through the twentieth centuries, the collection illustrates the extraordinary variety of formats and styles that makes calligraphy one of the most visually exciting of all artistic traditions. Reflecting the latest trends in art history, The Embodied Image carries the study of Chinese calligraphy beyond issues of style and connoisseurship to interpret this art as an integral part of Chinese culture. Nine scholarly essays written by a team of distinguished American and Chinese scholars examine the complex relationship between calligraphy and religion, politics, and literature.Synopsis
Chinese painting, sculpture, ceramics, and other art have gradually become familiar to many Western viewers, but calligraphy, the art most valued in China, remains little known. The Embodied Image accompanies an exhibition of one of the most outstanding and comprehensive collections of Chinese calligraphy ever assembled outside Asia, the John B. Elliott Collection at The Art Museum, Princeton University. Encompassing works of calligraphy from the fourth through the twentieth centuries, the collection illustrates the extraordinary variety of formats and styles that makes calligraphy one of the most visually exciting of all artistic traditions. Reflecting the latest trends in art history, The Embodied Image carries the study of Chinese calligraphy beyond issues of style and connoisseurship to interpret this art as an integral part of Chinese culture. Nine scholarly essays written by a team of distinguished American and Chinese scholars examine the complex relationship between calligraphy and religion, politics, and literature.
Library Journal
The John B. Elliott Collection at Princeton University's Art Museum is the only collection outside of China and Japan that properly represents the 1600-year history of Chinese calligraphy. A recent exhibition at the museum highlights the masterpieces of the collection, featuring the work of the most distinguished Chinese calligraphy masters. This accompanying book opens with introductory essays by two leading art historians of Chinese art, Harrist (Columbia Univ.) and Fong (Princeton Univ.), followed by a marvelously illustrated catalog. The entries are arranged chronologically and framed by brief linking narratives that capture the general style and mood of each period, from early ritual to the Ch'ing Dynasty. Nine topical essays by a team of scholars cover a wide range of issues in the history of calligraphy, relating this widely practiced art to other aspects of life. The glossary-index is especially helpful with English names and texts accompanied by Chinese equivalents. One of the best books on this subject in recent years, this is highly recommended for large collections in both public and academic libraries.--Lucia S. Chen, NYPL Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.