Soong Mayling (1898-2003) graduated from Wellesley College as a Durant Scholar in 1917 with a major in English literature and a minor in philosophy. She married Chiang Kai-shek in 1927.

Madame Chiang began to paint in 1951 and proved herself an adept and gifted pupil. A 1952 feature on her in Life magazine claimed her “aptitude far greater than that of most amateurs.” Madame Chiang made a gift of five paintings to Wellesley in 1958, during her third post-graduation visit.

Organized by Ningyi Xi ‘17, the 2017 Eleanor P. DeLorme Museum Intern at the Davis Museum, and presented with the generous support from The Mellon Endowment for Academic Programs at the Davis.