Song dynasty Liu Songnian (ca. 1150-after 1225)
Lohan
- Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk
- 117.4 x 56.1 cm
Liu Songnian, a native of Qiantang (modern-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang), served in the Painting Academy during the Chunxi era (1174-1189) in the position of Student. In the Shaoxi era (1190-1194), he became a Painter-in-Attendance at the Academy. Then, in the reign of Ningzong (1195-1224), he was awarded the Golden Belt. Thus, he became known as one of the Four Masters of the Southern Song dynasty.
This is one of three paintings in the Museum collection by Liu Songnian dated to 1207. In the corner of a garden setting appears to be a Chinese attendant holding a scripture in handscroll format as he bends towards the large figure of a lohan. Lohans, also known as arhats in Sanskrit, were disciples of the Buddha who later became venerated figures in China. The lohan here sits in front of a screen with a staff against his shoulder, perhaps contemplating the content of the scripture before him. The wrinkled face of the lohan and exaggerated facial features give the figure the appearance of a high monk. The rendering of the clothes and their patterns is intricate and varied, appearing flowing at times and stiff at others. The powerfully elegant brushwork complements the decorative yet reserved coloring. The exceptional detail of the painting is shown in the exacting reproduction of the lohan's cassock and its patterns . Even the rendering of the rattan stool and the grain of the wood screen have been captured. The painting of a shoal scene with waterfowl in the screen also correlates closely with Southern Song styles in terms of the one-corner composition and expansiveness of the scene.
The collection history of this scroll can be traced back to its earliest seal, Neifushuhua (Painting and Calligraphy of the Inner Court), which scholars believe may have been the seal of the Southern Song emperor Ningzong. This scroll therefore was quite possibly done by Liu Songnian when he was a court painter and, after completion, was placed in the court collection of Ningzong. In the following Yuan dynasty, it was acquired by Princess Xiangge Ciji (ca. 1283-1331). This princess was the daughter of Emperor Shunzong, the younger sister of Emperor Wuzong, and the elder sister of Emperor Renzong. Amassing a major collection of art during the Yuan period, she is a rare example of a female art collector in Chinese history. In 1331, Renzong bestowed upon her the title "Huangjiedazhanggongzhu" ("Grand Princess, Elder Sister of the Emperor"), so her collection seal was carved to read "Huangjietushu "("Library of the Emperor's Elder Sister").
Members of the Yuan imperial clan were devout Buddhists, and she was no exception. Perhaps for this reason she collected many Buddhist paintings, and among them was this work by the major Southern Song artist Liu Songnian.