May 14, 2010
Feb 23, 2004
Feb 23, 2004
May 14, 2010
Feb 23, 2004
May 14, 2010
Feb 23, 2004
May 14, 2010
May 14, 2010

Mountains of the Immortals

Mountains of the Immortals

仙山圖

1300–1370

Chen Ruyan 陳汝言

(Chinese, c. 1331–1371)

calligrapher

Ni Zan 倪瓚

(Chinese, 1301–1374)

Handscroll; ink and color on silk

Painting only: 33.4 x 97.3 cm (13 1/8 x 38 5/16 in.); height: 35 cm (13 3/4 in.)

Bequest of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1997.95

Description

The landscape in deep green tones offers a view into a secluded mountain valley, populated by ancient figures surrounded by deer and cranes, all under high pine trees. A red-robed immortal in the air steers his crane toward the paradise land.

This idyllic scene was presumably created amid the tumultuous transition from the Yuan to the Ming dynasty. Chen from Suzhou supported major rebel leaders, first Zhang Shicheng (1321–1367) with his base in Suzhou and then his rival Zhu Yuanzhang in Nanjing, after the latter had established the Ming dynasty. Chen was executed in 1371.

See also
Collection: 
ASIAN - Handscroll
Department: 
Chinese Art
Type of artwork: 
Painting

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