Twenty-Four Beauties, unknown maker from China

This Chinese handscroll is an example of so-called “beautiful women” painting that featured famous historical and legendary female figures. For example, viewing the handscroll from right to left, the 18th beauty holds a cloth-covered qin zither, a musical string instrument, and most likely represents Zhuo Wenjun, a second century BCE heroine who left her wealthy family to pursue a romance with the famed and destitute scholar Sima Xiangru. While some of the women can be identified, most are idealized representations who not only are physically beautiful but possess talent and virtue as well. Depicted with slender figures, oval faces, and sloping shoulders, which exemplify the ideal beauty in late-imperial China, individual attributes such as a musical instrument, book, or sword, associated each woman with literary or artistic cultivation.

Use the touchscreen in this exhibition to view the entire scroll.

This Chinese handscroll is an example of “beautiful women” painting that featured historical and legendary female figures. Viewing the handscroll from right to left, the 18th beauty holds a cloth-covered qin, or string instrument, and most likely represents Zhuo Wenjun, a second century heroine who left her wealthy family to pursue a romance with a destitute scholar named Sima Xiangru. Although some of the women can be identified, most are idealized representations of beauty, talent, and virtue. Depicted with slender figures, oval faces, and sloping shoulders—the ideal of beauty in late-imperial China—individual attributes such as a musical instrument, book, or sword associated each individual with literary or artistic cultivation.