This famous traditional Chinese ink painting, currently in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a portrait of Tang emperor Xuanzong’s favorite horse Night-Shining White. Emperor Xuanzong had thousands of horses, but this celestial steed was known for his especially feisty personality! In this Golden Age of Chinese history, this horse would not be caught dead all dressed up for one of Xuanzong’s fancy synchronized horse parades. He had his own personality! Xuanzong loved Night-Shining White so much, he commissioned artist Han Gan to paint this portrait. Han Gan is one of the greatest horse painters in the history of Chinese art. He captured Night-Shining White’s incredibly spirited character in this famous scroll painting.

Main artwork:

Han Gan, Night-Shining White, c. 750, Tang dynasty, ink on paper, handscroll, Image: 12 1/8 x 13 3/8 in. (30.8 x 34 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Learn more

Read about Chinese handscrolls on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline.