This title presents a selected collection of 159 Chinese paintings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties from the Palace Museum. With themes ranging from bird-and-flower, landscapes, to animals and figures, the collection showcases the masterpieces by court painters, literati artists, and Western missionaries serving in the Chinese imperial court. Written by experts in the Palace Museum, the introductory essay elucidates not only the artistic values in the paintings, various styles of different painters and schools, but also the cultural and social background of the Chinese painting circle from the 15th to early 20th century.

The Palace Museum, the Forbidden City, has a comprehensive collection of the world’s largest treasury of ancient Chinese art. The Museum is an abundant resource for anyone who are interested in Chinese paintings, ceramic wares, jade wares, calligraphy, furniture, and other valuable treasures.