Restored Scroll Unfolds Chinese History

CHICAGO—Experts at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History are saying a recently restored Chinese scroll depicting the Madonna and Jesus might be evidence of Christian missionary work in China dating back several hundred years, United Press International reports. In the scroll, Mary looks European but Jesus's hair appears to be styled in Chinese fashion. The image recently was identified as a copy of a work from a Roman church—thought to be reproduced from a copy brought to China—making it older than previously thought (Berthold Laufer, who bought the scroll in 1910, estimated it dated back to the 17th century). Now that the scroll has been restored, art expert Lauren Arnold said the work appears to be by Tang Yin, a Ming Dynasty painter who lived from 1470 to 1524.