Rare 14th-century Chinese scroll on display at the Fitzwilliam Museum - for a limited time only

This month sees a rare Chinese scroll from the fourteenth century on display in the Chinese Gallery (Gallery 28). The handscroll Wu Xing (‘Pure and Remote’) was painted by early Ming artist Xu Ben (c.1335-1393), and resided in the Qing imperial collection. The variety of seals imprinted upon the scroll’s surface act as a testimony to its viewing and ownership through the ages by many Ming connoisseurs, including the Emperor Qianlong - who added his seal no less than 16 times - as well as the last emperor Pu Yi, and the 20th-century collector Chen Rentao. The scroll is on loan from Professor C. Humphrey of King’s College until late November.

18 October 2007