Ashmolean Museum Oxford

A Life In Chinese Art

by Shelagh Vainker and Xin Chen

£5.00

Michael Sullivan's career spanned seven decades, and the essays in this volume have been written by friends, students and colleagues from every period of his life.

A chronology of his life and a complete bibliography of his published works are also included, along with many archival photographs. Shelagh Vainker and Xin Chen are Curator of Chinese Art and Christensen Fellow in Chinese Painting at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Michael Sullivan (1916-2013) was the leading Western authority on art in China in the period since 1900. He first went to China in 1939, driving ambulances for The Red Cross, and returned in 1946 having married his wife Khoan in Chengdu, Sichuan, three years earlier. Michael Sullivan subsequently studied and taught Chinese art history in the universities of London, Harvard, Malaya, Stanford and finally Oxford, in 1985. In 1959 he published Chinese Art in the 20th Century, the first book to address the subject, and he and Khoan together formed one of the most important collections of modern Chinese paintings in private hands.

Product Information

Paperback

Book contains 171 pages

Dimensions: 24.5 x 17.5 x 1.5cm

FAQs

Delivery Information

Shipping to United States of America is currently suspended for the foreseeable future.

The de minimus exemption for orders under $800 going to USA ended on Friday 29 August 2025. Please bear with us while we update our systems to accommodate the new tariffs and duties. 

Christmas Delivery Dates

Please be aware that during busy periods, such as Christmas, it may take us longer than normal to respond to enquiries and to dispatch orders.

We recommend placing your order as early as possible to avoid disappointment. These are the recommended last dates for placing your order:

UK delivery – midnight Wednesday 17 December 2025
International delivery – midnight Wednesday 10 December 2025 (delivery times may be affected by customs clearance)

There will be reduced staffing over the Christmas holidays, so any online orders placed after midday Monday 22 December will be dispatched after 5 January 2026.

Our Pickup service is a convenient way for you to order online and collect your purchase in person at the Museum. Simply select the Pickup option at checkout.

The Online Shop team operates between Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00, so please allow time for us to prepare your order for collection or delivery, particularly at busy times of the year. We aim to have your order ready for collection/delivery within 72 hours.

The Museum will be closed on 24, 25, 26 December 2025, and 1 January 2026.

UK 1st Class: delivery 2-5 business days from dispatch

Europe: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays)

Rest of World: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays)

Please be aware that orders to International addresses may be subject to local customs duty or taxes. You will need to pay any additional charges for customs clearance, charges include local VAT and duty based on the value and origin of the product.

There is 5kg weight restriction for UK orders, and a 2kg weight restriction for International orders. If your order exceeds this weight, please contact the Online Shop team so that we can organise a quote for special delivery: onlineshop@ashmus.ox.ac.uk

Further information on our delivery options and returns policy can be found in Shipping & Returns.

Back to top