Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

The current exhibition entitled, “The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City” focuses on 18th century artifacts found in the Qianlong emperor’s self-contained suite of small pavilions and gardens tucked away at the Forbidden’s City northeast corner making up his retirement quarters, known as Tranquility and Longevity Palace. The show is made up primarily of freshly conserved Qing objects: thrones, cabinets, screens, religious sculptures, paintings, many specifically from the Qianlong Garden buildings.

This exhibition run through May 1 and is located in the museum’s Chinese galleries. A catalogue written by Nancy Berliner accompanies the exhibition.

Also recommended for viewing are the adjacent Irving Galleries of Chinese decorative arts located on the second level above the Chinese painting gallery. Exhibited in the Irving Galleries are six superb Chinese snuff bottles amid many other 18th century decorative artifacts drawn from the Met Museum’s collection.