Selections
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Snowscape
- Ma Yuan (1195-1224), Song dynasty
In this painting a pine grows vigorously amid pristine snows before a splendid mountaintop pavilion, while below an arriving visitor crosses the bridge on horseback. His attendant, huddled near his side against the cold, infuses the painting with a bone-chilling wintry air. Although the bottom on the painting bears Ma Yuan's signature, the brushwork suggests that this is the work of a Ming dynasty artist. Nevertheless, there are strong echoes of Ma Yuan's style to be found in the rendering of tree branches and the "axe-cut" brushstrokes used to texture the mountains and boulders.
Ma Yuan (1195-1224) was a court painter during the reign of Emperor Ningzong during the Southern Song dynasty. He became known by the nickname "One Corner Ma" due to his proclivity for placing the focus of his paintings in a single corner. -
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Thousand Crags and Myriad Ravines
- Wang Hui(1632-1717). Qing dynasty
Wang Hui (1632-1717), of Changshu, Jiangsu province, was known by Shigu and the sobriquet Gengyan Sanren. Having learned landscape painting under the direct tutelage of Wang Shimin (1592-1680), he is regarded as one of the "four kings" of this genre in the early Qing-era.
This work depicts countless soaring cliffs and plunging valleys of breathtaking majesty, with an ancient Buddhist temple hidden in the alpine forest. Monks making their way through the woods and a solitary fisherman oaring his boat across the river increase this bucolic vista's sense of remoteness. Wang evoked the lush richness of this landscape by employing fine, languidly flowing lines and an elegantly muted color scheme that gives the mountain range sinuous texture. -
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Traveling Over Rivers and Mountain Passes
- Dong Bangda(1699-1769), Qing dynasty
Dong Bangda (1699-1769), of Fuyang, Zhejiang province, was styled Fucun and had the sobriquet Dongshan. He passed the imperial examinations during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng and was eventually promoted to the leadership of the Ministry of Rites.
This work portrays undulating high mountain peaks broken by a raging torrent. Travelers make their way up a winding plank pathway, while a boat and an inn can be discerned towards the bottom of the image. The mountains have been colored in exquisite detail, giving them a sumptuous feeling of texture along with their vastness. The painting overflows with fascinating brushwork, lending it a potent sense of homage to the spirit of Yuan dynasty painters. -
Exhibit List
| Title | Artist | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Snowscape | Ma Yuan (1195-1224) | Song dynasty |
| Spring Clearing After Rain in the Wu Mountains | Wen Boren (1502-1575) | Ming dynasty |
| Thousand Crags and Myriad Ravines | Wang Hui(1632-1717) | Qing dynasty |
| Twin Pines | Shen Zongjing (1669-1735) | Qing dynasty |
| Forest of Ink Marvel Gems | Zou Yigui (1686-1772) | Qing dynasty |
| Traveling Over Rivers and Mountain Passes | Dong Bangda(1699-1769) | Qing dynasty |