Visual Melodies––Listening to the Sounds of Paintings

Attributed to Xu Daoning, Song Dynasty
Silk
故畫001265-8

Although the signature attributes the work to Xu Daoning of the Northern Song dynasty (circa 11th century), the pine, bamboo, and the figure beneath the tree show the influence of Southern Song court painter Liu Songnian, dating to the work to the Southern Song period. A scholar strolling along a path stops to listen to nature’s melodies, his scarf, hat, and sash wafting lightly in the breeze. Expressing aural concepts such as "listening to the pines" in a two-dimensional format posed considerable challenges for painters of the Southern Song dynasty.

Wen Zhengming, Ming Dynasty
Paper
故畫001333

At sundown, after a rain, a scholar sits and listens to a spring flowing through sparsely wooded hillocks. The painter, Wen Zhengming (1470–1559), inscribed a poem above the scene, likening the flowing water to the lingering touch of cool jade, a captivating experience perceptible only to those unconcerned with the pursuit of wealth and fame. The brothers Wang Shou (ca. 1493-1550) and Wang Chong (1494-1533) were friends with Wen Zhengming despite age differences, and they too inscribed poems on the scroll. The painting’s atmosphere is similar to Spring Mountain with Mist and Trees, another work in the museum's collection.

Li Shida, Ming Dynasty
Silk
故畫000609

Li Shida (ca. 1550-1621), a native of Wuxian (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province), was a preeminent scholar and landscape painter. This work dates to autumn of 1616. 
A scholar sits among the pines and rocks, clasping his knees, leisurely listening to the wind blowing through the pines while nearby servant boys tend to their duties—gathering herbs, unrolling a scroll, and stoking a fire to brew tea. Far removed from life's hustle and bustle, the gentleman savors the pleasures of sipping tea while attending to nature’s melodies.

Artist unknown, Ming Dynasty
Silk
故畫003470-12

On a dim, moonlit night, a scholar sits in a gazebo playing a zither; drawn to the music, people gather outside to listen. A man trips in the darkness, and the others help him to his feet. The work resonates with the zither’s melodies, imparting an appealing, folksy aura. The unsigned painting bears similarities to the work of Ming dynasty Suzhou painter Zhou Chen (ca. 1450-1535). This work likely dates to the 16th century.