The poet Li Bai was summoned by Emperor Minghuang (r. 713-756) to compose poems for his concubine Yang Guifei. Li arrives, drunk; Yang, however, admires his talent and helps him to write while the eunuch Gao Lishi assists Li in removing his shoes. The top of the chest features a heavenly scene. After Yang’s death the emperor dreams that he meets her on the moon.
c. 1600 - c. 1700
Lacquering
49.0 x 104.0 x 48.0 cm
BK-1957-50
Image and text courtesy of Rijksmuseum, 2019
Where you'll find this
Rijksmuseum
Permanent collection