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The Arts of China
This book presents a fascinating and balanced picture of Chinese art from the Stone Age to the present day. The author concerns himself not only with art, but also with Chinese philosophy, religion, and the realm of ideas.
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
14 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Michael Sullivan
20 books4 followersDonovan Michael Sullivan (Chinese: 蘇立文), 29 October 1916 – 28 September 2013, was a Canadian-born British art historian and collector, and one of the major Western pioneers in the field of modern Chinese art history and criticism.
Sullivan was born in Toronto, Canada, and moved to England at the age of three. He was the youngest of five children of Alan Sullivan (pen name Sinclair Murray), a Canadian mining engineer turned novelist and his wife Elisabeth (née Hees). Sullivan was a graduate of Rugby School and graduated from the University of Cambridge in architecture in 1939. He was in China from 1940–1946 with the International and Chinese Red Cross followed by teaching and doing museum work in Chengdu, where he met and married Wu Huan (Khoan), a biologist who gave up her career to work with him.
He received a PhD from Harvard University (1952) and a post-doctoral Bollingen Fellowship. He subsequently taught in the University of Singapore, and returned to London in the 1960s to teach at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Then he became Christensen Professor of Chinese art in the Department of Art at Stanford University from 1966 to 1984, before moving to the University of Oxford as a Fellow by Special Election at St Catherine's College, Oxford. He lived in Oxford, England. He was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford for 1973–74.
Sullivan was a major art collector who owned more than 400 works of art, including paintings by Chinese masters Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, and Wu Guanzhong. His was one of the world's most significant collections of modern Chinese art. He bequeathed his collection to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, which has a gallery dedicated to Sullivan and his wife Khoan.
Sullivan was born in Toronto, Canada, and moved to England at the age of three. He was the youngest of five children of Alan Sullivan (pen name Sinclair Murray), a Canadian mining engineer turned novelist and his wife Elisabeth (née Hees). Sullivan was a graduate of Rugby School and graduated from the University of Cambridge in architecture in 1939. He was in China from 1940–1946 with the International and Chinese Red Cross followed by teaching and doing museum work in Chengdu, where he met and married Wu Huan (Khoan), a biologist who gave up her career to work with him.
He received a PhD from Harvard University (1952) and a post-doctoral Bollingen Fellowship. He subsequently taught in the University of Singapore, and returned to London in the 1960s to teach at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Then he became Christensen Professor of Chinese art in the Department of Art at Stanford University from 1966 to 1984, before moving to the University of Oxford as a Fellow by Special Election at St Catherine's College, Oxford. He lived in Oxford, England. He was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford for 1973–74.
Sullivan was a major art collector who owned more than 400 works of art, including paintings by Chinese masters Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, and Wu Guanzhong. His was one of the world's most significant collections of modern Chinese art. He bequeathed his collection to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, which has a gallery dedicated to Sullivan and his wife Khoan.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 27, 2010
You wouldn't expect such fine discrimination and revealing insights in what is ostensibly a college textbook, but Sullivan's passion carries the entire book along in a wonderfully readable way. No snoozing through this book at all.
November 12, 2025
Because why can a textbook not be a part of my reading goal? Very informative, gave a great history and how art has played and continues to play a huge part in Chinese government and culture. Went through the majority of the major dynasties throughout China. This book gave me a great introduction to Chinese art history which will be so helpful in my future careers.
October 19, 2018
The book is organized temporally by Chinese dynasties. Each chapter begins with a section on the historical context of the art in that time period. It is a college textbook and it would be tedious and confusing to read straight through it. But you can read it selectively, for example, by finding the section on painting (or ceramics or sculpture) in each chapter. I appreciate the inclusion of dynasty maps.
May 23, 2008
All cultures must be explored in art for total social awareness.
July 7, 2009
Given to me by my uncle for Christmas when I was in middle school, this is one of my favorite books to browse through.
May 15, 2014
Read Chapters 5-10
March 29, 2015
Nice overview and introduction to the traditional arts of China. People looking for more can use the bibliography.
November 28, 2018
Basic introduction to Chinese history and material culture. Some interesting images.
April 23, 2024
Borrowed from an art teacher. Great introduction into Chinese history through art. (High school/college level.)
March 19, 2008
Very well written. Provided sufficient historical and religious context with which to interpret the art. Lots of great illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews