The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of November 30, 2023

General Guo Ziyi’s Birthday Banquet

곽분양행락도(郭汾陽行樂圖)

early or mid-1800s

Korea, Joseon dynasty

(1392-1910)

Eight-panel folding screen, embroidery on silk

Painting: 60.9 x 30 cm (24 x 11 13/16 in.); Overall framed: 195.2 x 332.4 cm (76 7/8 x 130 7/8 in.)

Gift of the honorable Joseph P. Carroll, KM, and Roberta Carroll, M.D., in recognition of the contribution of Marjorie Williams to the development of The Cleveland Museum of Art 2020.87

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

This folding screen is highly likely to have been created by an amateur woman embroiderer.

Description

The subject of this folding screen is a banquet in honor of Guo Ziyi (697–781), who is considered one of the greatest generals in Chinese history. He had a long and successful military career as well as a blissful family life. Thus, his image surrounded by his numerous family members symbolize the paragon of success and happiness. Using a wide spectrum of colorful silk threads, the artist colorfully depicts Guo enjoying his full-fledged retirement life.

Provenance
September 21, 2000
(Sotheby's, New York, NY, 21 September 2000, lot 442, sold to Joseph Carroll)
2000-2020
The Honorable Joseph P. Carroll and Roberta L. Carroll, MD, New York City, NY, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
2020-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Sotheby's, New York. Japanese and Korean Works of Art. 21 September 2000. Lot 442.
Kim, Hong-nam. "A Study of Painting of Guo Fenyang’s Enjoyment-of-Life in Korea [한국 〈郭汾陽行樂圖〉 연구]." Misulsa nondan (2012): 67-104. www.dbpia.co.kr
Beyond Folding Screens [조선, 병풍의 나라]. Seoul: Amorepacific Museum of Art, 2018.
Exhibition history

Popular Art from Early Modern Korea (Korean art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 29, 2021-April 17, 2022).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2020.87