Boston's Museum of Fine Arts receives gift of Chinese art

BOSTON (AP) — Boston's Museum of Fine Arts has received what museum officials are calling a transformative gift of nearly 200 pieces of Chinese art that have been in the same family for six generations.

The gift from Wan-go H. C. Weng is the largest and most significant gift of Chinese art in museum history.

The 130 paintings, 31 works of calligraphy, 18 ink rubbings and four textiles span 13 centuries and five imperial dynasties.

Weng is one of the most respected connoisseurs of Chinese paintings in the world. His great-great-grandfather assembled the core of the collection during the 19th century.

The gift elevates the museum's Chinese collection into one of the foremost in the world outside of China.

Pieces from the collection will go on display at the museum next fall.