From merchant to elite artist and collector

Abstract This paper reports the first academic research on collection of Yan Xinhou (1838–1906), a prominent gentry–merchant from second half nineteenth century. It presents collection, now housed at Herbert F. Johnson Museum Art Cornell University, and tells fascinating story family how their came to United States during early twentieth More importantly, it provides starting point for future explorations taste, collecting practices social relations late Qing merchants. The contains thirty-two works Ming dynasty painting calligraphy, including calligraphy items by Zhang Ruitu (1570–1641), Jiang Chenying (1628–1699) Qian Bojiong (1738–1812); paintings Wang Shimin (1592–1680), Xiao Yuncong (1596–1673), Wu (1632-1690), Ma Quan (active 1800s), Shangguan Zhou (1665–c.1749), Zheng Xie (1693–1765), Hua (1682–1756), Xi Gang (1746–1803), Pan Simu (1756–after 1843), Zhao Wei (1746–1825), Du (1764–1845), Gai Qi (1773–1828) Xizai (1799–1870).