Whiling Away the Summer in the Shade of Pines

This large hanging scroll features a tall peak in the upper right corner towering over a rocky ridge with pines and pavillions below. An official (based upon clothing and headgear) stands on a terrace gazing at the view. The significant landscape elements are weighted diagonally in the lower right corner of the composition. The depiction of an official in a summer retreat surrounded by the beauty of nature and grand architecture is an idealized vision that would appeal to Ming academy painters.

Anonymous, possible Zhe School, Ming Dynasty, “Spending the Summer amid Pines”, circa 15th century. Ink and light color on silk, attributed to Ma yuan of the Song Dynasty, mounted on panel and framed, (possibly cut down, minor stains.)

Maker(s)
Artist: Zhe School 浙派 Formerly attributed to Ma Yuan 馬遠 (active late 12th-early 13th century)
Historical period(s)
Ming dynasty, 15th century
Medium
Ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 178.7 x 95.9 cm (70 3/8 x 37 3/4 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Bequest of Mrs. Katharine Graham
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F2002.3
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll (mounted on panel)

Keywords
China, landscape, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), mountain, pine tree, summer, temple
Provenance

To 1970
Eugene (1875-1959) and Agnes E. (1887-1970) Meyer, New York, Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY

From 1970 to 2001
Katharine Graham (1917-2001), Washington, DC, by descent from her mother, Agnes E. Meyer

From 2002
Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Katharine Graham in 2002 [1]

Notes:

[1] See Katharine Graham’s Last Will and Testament, dated January 12, 2000, copy in object file.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer (1875-1959) and (1887-1970)
Katharine Meyer Graham 1917-2001

Description

This large hanging scroll features a tall peak in the upper right corner towering over a rocky ridge with pines and pavillions below. An official (based upon clothing and headgear) stands on a terrace gazing at the view. The significant landscape elements are weighted diagonally in the lower right corner of the composition. The depiction of an official in a summer retreat surrounded by the beauty of nature and grand architecture is an idealized vision that would appeal to Ming academy painters.

Anonymous, possible Zhe School, Ming Dynasty, "Spending the Summer amid Pines", circa 15th century. Ink and light color on silk, attributed to Ma yuan of the Song Dynasty, mounted on panel and framed, (possibly cut down, minor stains.)

Inscription(s)

1. (Joseph Chang, 19 September 2002) Label mounted next to the painting: Song Ma Yuan Songyin xiaoxia tu zhenji (Spending the Summer Amid Pines, an authentic work by Ma Yuan of the Song.) The label is of 19th or 20th century origin and can almost be disregarded.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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