Tales from the Land of Dragons: 1,000 Years of Chinese Painting

The masterpieces of Chinese painting over the past millennium -- culled from the extensive collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston -- are lucidly presented in this scholarly and beautifully illustrated catalogue. The pieces discussed range from historical allegories from the 1st century A D., to breathtaking 12th century landscapes, to precisely observed animal scenes from the era of the Yuan Dynasty -- the finest examples of the world's oldest continuing painting tradition. Also considered are the relationships between Chinese painting and other forms of art -- particularly calligraphy, which was central to traditional Chinese culture. An informed and comprehensive introduction by scholar Wu Tung sets the works in their historical and social contexts.