Birds on an Autumn Pond

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Maker(s)
Artist: Traditionally attributed to Zhao Lingrang (active ca. 1070-1100)
Historical period(s)
Ming dynasty, 17th century
Medium
Ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 24.1 x 187.5 cm (9 1/2 x 73 13/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1960.3
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Handscroll

Keywords
autumn, bird, China, duck, egret, goose, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), mynah bird, water
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

This short handscroll depicts various bird activities by a pond in autumn.  There are crested mynas and magpies on trees at the beginning and end of the scroll.  Ducks and geese swim and fly in the foreground and distant scenes.  Egrets, searching for food, are flying and resting on shore.  Near the end of the scroll, a pair of mandarin ducks nestle on the bank.  The red-leafed trees, reeds and wild chrysanthemums indictate the season is autumn.  Running streams feed into the pond on the far shore and flow into the willow grove.  This is a Ming dynasty painting based on a Sung composition in the style of Zhao Lingrang (active ca. 1070-1100).

Published References
  • Wu Sheng. Da guan lu/Ta kuan lu [Catalogue of paintings and calligraphy of various collections]. 23 vols., Wujin. vol. 13: pp. 30a-31a.
  • Suzuki Kei. Chugoku kaiga sogo zuroku [Comprehensive Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Painting]. 5 vols., Tokyo, 1982-1983. vol. 1: pp. 216-217.
  • "明畫全集 /." The Complete Works of the Ming Dynasty [Ming hua quan ji]. vol. 20, Hangzhou, China. pp. 236-249, fig. 39.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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