Biography

Jun Li is professor in western art history at China Central Academy of Fine-Arts, Beijing, and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities. He was visiting scholar at Harvard University (2011-2012), at l’Institut National du Patrimoine (2002-2004) and at l’Université de Paris I (2003-2004). His work focuses on the interactions and communications of material culture and artistic style between China and Europe, from the 11th to the 16th centuries.

Project Summary

Diagrams with tree patterns, used in 15th Century Italy and Europe to illustrate relationships (the Tree of Jesse, Genealogical Trees, the Tree of Knowledge) reveals striking similarities to Chinese images. An examination of Chinese works in Italy, and those copied by Italian craftsmen, should cast light on this connection, and on the impact of Eastern art on the West.