Representations of immortals in Chinese art commonly include children. The boy in this tapestry hanging scroll is an immortal servant. The bald old man with a prominent forehead is the God of Longevity (Shoulao), and the plate of peaches in the boy’s hands a symbol of immortality.
Credit: John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913
19th century
Hanging scroll; silk tapestry (kesi)
81.3 x 47.0cm
13.220.133
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection