Expert: Jeni Andrews-Fraser - 4/21/2008

Question

Hello
I wanted to know if you know anything about the visual arts such as painting, ceramics, sculpture, and textiles during the Ming Dynasty. I don't have a specice question I just need to know info about the art during this time.
Thanks for you're help,

Answer
Hello Abby - and thank you for your question.  My expertise is in Western art (so doesn't cover the Ming Dynasty - although, as an art historian, I am aware of it and its artistic creations.) Depending on where you live, contact the British Museum (Oriental studies department) - or Met (in NY) for some expert advice in this area.  Otherwise, there are some excellent websites that offer overviews (and sometimes quite specific) information about the period you are interested in.  

Here are some suggestions:

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ming/hd_ming.htm
http://www.asia-art.net/
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/index.html

Enjoy your 'journey' - it's fascinating stuff (and has an impact on Western painting and design round about the 1860s when the Impressionists adopt some of the unusual viewpoints and compositional devices in their paintings.)

Cheers
Jeni