明　王鏊　行書致管方伯書　冊頁|Letter

Wang Ao

late 15th or early 16th century · Album leaf; ink on patterned paper · Asian Art

Wang Ao was a gifted scholar from Suzhou who rose to become a Grand Secretary, one of the most prominent posts in the imperial bureaucracy. The text of this letter is decorous but light on content; mostly it is taken up with expressions of gratitude for previous letters and apologies for missing a chance to meet in person. Although the letter is perfunctory, the luxurious hydrangea-print stationery and the sinuous brushwork from a famous hand made this an object worth treasuring.

Artist

Wang Ao

Date

late 15th or early 16th century

Medium

Album leaf; ink on patterned paper

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., 1988