c. 1888–89
(Chinese, 1823–1896)
Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper
Painting: 112.6 x 52.2 cm (44 5/16 x 20 9/16 in.); Overall (no knobs): 231 x 70.5 cm (90 15/16 x 27 3/4 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1999.6
Xugu was a military commander and then a Buddhist priest before becoming a major figure in Shanghai's art scene.
The loquat is a plant native to China that produces a juicy, yellow fruit in early summer. The artist may have intentionally extended the branches beyond the paper to emphasize their abundance of fruit. Xugu inscribed his painting on the right, dedicating the work to a certain Mr. Youshan. Two additional inscriptions by other writers were added later, each time the painting changed owners.
Xugu gave up his career as a military official during the Taiping rebellion (1850–64) and became an itinerant monk who painted for a living. He spent the later years of his life in Shanghai and his fame as an artist is associated with that city.
The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.
To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.
All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.