Artwork preview

Emperor Xuanzong's flight to Shu

Unidentified artist

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The painting depicts a group of people on horseback and on foot, traveling through a mountainous landscape. The scene shows a line of horses, some with riders and some without, moving from left to right. The riders wear traditional Chinese clothing, with some dressed in red and others in green or white. One rider wears black pants and a red top. The horses are various shades of brown and white. The foreground features a large tree trunk on the right and a rocky outcropping on the left. The background shows a dark, mountainous landscape with trees and hills. The painting has a brown border with a decorative pattern along the top and bottom edges. The overall color palette is muted, with shades of brown, beige, and muted colors. The scene appears to be a historical or narrative depiction, possibly illustrating a famous story or event. The title "Emperor Xuanzong's flight to Shu" suggests that the scene relates to the flight of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

Artwork Details

Date
mid-12th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
Culture
China
Dimensions
600 × 450 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette