Detail View: The AMICA Library: Bamboo, Rocks and Lonely Orchids

CMA_.1963.515

2003

Paintings

Zhao Mengfu

Chinese

artist

1254 - 1322

M

Zhao Mengfu

Bamboo, Rocks and Lonely Orchids

Primary

Detail

1271-1368

1271

1368

handscroll, ink on paper

Painting

China, Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)

Image: 50.5cm x 144.1cm

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

1963.515

John L. Severance Fund by exchange

Artist's title: Bamboo, Rocks, and Lonely Orchids. Artist's inscription and 3 seals [lower left]: Meng-fu drew this for Shan-fu. [seals] Chao Tzu-ang shih; Sung-hseh-chai; Tien-hsiu-chn t'u-shu-yin.29 colophons and 86 additional seals (in order of appearance): 1 colophon and 2 seals of Han Hsing (1266-1341); 1 colophon of Ch'iu Yan (b. 1261): 1 colophon of Cheng Yan-yu (1292-1364); 1 colophon of Wu K'e-kung (d. after 1341); 1 colophon and 2 seals of Ang Chi (act. mid-14th c.); 1 colophon and 1 seal of Wang Tzu-fang; 1 colophon and 2 seals of K'oChiu-ssu (1290-1343); 1 colophon and 1 seal of Y Li (act. mid-14th c.); 1 colophon, dated 1351, and 1 seal of Chao I; 1 colophon and 1 seal of Y Chi (1272-1348); 1 colophon and 2 seals of Sun Shih (act. early 15th c.); I colophon and 1 seal of Chang Chu (1287-1368); 1 colophon and 2 seals of Chang Wu (act. 1335-65); 1 colophon, dated 1348, and 1 seal of Ch'en Chi(1314-1370); 1 colophon of Chang Shen (act. 2nd half 14th c.); 1 colophon and 3 seals of Wang Hsn, 1 colophon and 2 seals of Hu Kuang-ta; 1 colophon and 3 seals of Wang Yin-shih; 1 colophon and 4 seals of ChangY-ch'u (d. 1410); 1 colophon and 1 seal of Yao Kuang-hsiao (1335-1419); 1 colophon and 3 seals of Wang Ning (late 14th-early 15th c.); 1 colophon and 5 seals of Ou-yang An (act. early 15th c.); 1 colophon and 3 seals of Ch'en Lien (ca. 1368-1398); 1 colophon, dated 1434, and 5 seals of Wei Chi (1374-1471); 1 colophon and 3 seals of Chang I (act. ca. 1465-87); 1 colophon and 5 seals of Yin Chih (act. ca. 1454); 1 colophon of Tsou Y, 1 seal of Ch'eng Cheng-k'uei (act. 1631-74); 16 seals of Liang Ch'ing-piao (1620-1691); 1 colophon, dated 1629, and 2 seals of Hs Shou-ho (act. ca. 1st half 17th c.); 1 colophon, dated 1802, and 2 seals of Hs Shu-tung; 3 seals of Wu T'ing (ca. 1600); 5 seals of T'ang Tso-mei (late 18th-early 19th c.); 3 seals unidentified.Colophon by Han Hsing:Those ancients who excelled in calligraphy were also always good in painting. Even a random drop of ink, turned into a housefly [like Chang Sheng-yu] would be full of life, befitting the object. These orchids and rocks by the venerable master Sung-hseh embrace both the brush method of the "running" style as well as the "flying white" manner in calligraphy. Indeed, it should be treasured. Han hsing of Anyang.Colophon by Chao I, son of Chao Meng-fu:Chi-cheng, eleventh year [1351], tenth moon, twentieth-eighth day [your] son, I, after paying respects, carefully examined [this].Colophon by Ch'en Chi:On seeing the Bamboo, Rocks, and Lonely Orchids by the Duke from Wu-hsing [Chao Meng-fu], one feels one is suddenly cleansed of lowly and narrow-minded sentiments. His brush moves so freely at his will, vertically and horizontally [as though meeting no resistance]. It comes so naturally with a disarming flair of naivet‚ and earnestness, as though coming directly from the calligraphies of the Two Wangs [Wang Hsi-shih and his son, Wang Hsien-shih]. No wonder it has been so much more treasured and enjoyed by Chung-ying [Ku Te-hui, or Ku Ying, 1310-1369] than other ordinary works. Written on the tenth day of the fourth month of the eighth year of Chih-cheng [1348]. Ch'en Chi of T'ien-t'ai.

http://www.clevelandart.org/museum/disclaim2.html

Lian Qinbiao; Frank Caro

CMA_.1963.515det05.tif