Illustrated Mirror of Emperors and Song of Everlasting Sorrow
late 18th century
Description
Four subjects are combined (two per screen) on this pair of folding screens. The right hand screen appears to depict the mythical ruler Huangdi (ca. 3000 BCE) and the incident known as “Huangdi Constructs a South-facing Carriage” paired with an episode from the Song of Everlasting Sorrow known as “Elegant Battles.” The left hand screen depicts the story “Emperor Shun Plays the Zither” paired with “The Butterfly and the Emperor’s Visit,” another incident from the ballad in which Minghuang releases a butterfly, which leads him to the palace where the court ladies reside.
Dimensions
each screen, painting only: H. 152.4 × W. 353.1 cm (60 × 139 in.) each screen overall, open flat: H. 167.6 × W. 368.3 cm (66 × 145 in.)
Provenance
Charles W. Downer, Cambridge, MA (mid-1970s - 2016), gift; to Harvard Art Museums 2016.
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