Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Michael Sullivan: A Life of Art and Friendship

(from 11th Mar until 14th Sep 2014)

A commemorative exhibition in memory of Michael Sullivan, leading scholar of Chinese art.

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Introduction

This exhibition, which includes works by some of the most important artists in 20th century China, celebrates the life of the art historian and collector Michael Sullivan (1916-2013).

Michael was a leading scholar of Chinese art, as well as a longstanding friend and supporter of the Ashmolean Museum. He was able to build up one of the greatest private collections of modern and contemporary Chinese art in the world through his life-long friendships with prominent Chinese artists, who presented many inscribed paintings, prints, drawings, and albums to him and his wife Khoan (1919-2003). The collection has been bequeathed by Michael Sullivan to the Ashmolean Museum, and this selection of works from the collection commemorates his long and fruitful life of art and friendship.

Director of the Ashmolean Museum, Professor Christopher Brown CBE, says: “...it is through his forethought and generosity that we have received this outstanding collection. His paintings will be displayed, on rotation, in the Khoan and Michael Sullivan Gallery where they will be enjoyed by thousands of visitors; and scholars from around the world will have the opportunity to use the works in their study, teaching, and research.

Eastern Art Online presents an online version of the exhibition Michael Sullivan: A Life of Art and Friendship on display in the Ashmolean’s Chinese Paintings Gallery until the 14th September 2014. It will enable visitors to browse and search all exhibition objects and their high-quality zoomable images.

Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition.    Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition.    Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition.
Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition case. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition case.    Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition case. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition case.    Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition case. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Chinese Paintings Gallery - Michael Sullivan and Friends exhibition case.

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Notice

Objects from past exhibitions may have now returned to our stores or a lender. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so please contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

© 2013 University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum