A Garden Party
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1911.513
Tags
About this artwork
To 1911
Art Historical Context
*A Garden Party* is a captivating Chinese painting the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 likely dating to the16th century. Once attributed to the renowned Yuan dynasty artist Qian Xuan (active late 13th century), for his elegant flower paintings and revival of Song-era styles, this work reflects the era's admiration for classical traditions. Depicting a lively celebration in a lush garden with musicians and revelers, it evokes the pleasures of elite Chinese society, where such gatherings symbolized harmony, leisure, and cultural sophistication. The painting's inclusion in the Charles Lang Fre collectio...