Description
This painting by Chen Hongshou depicts the story of Xuanwen Jun, or Lady of Literary Propagation, at a venerable age, instructing young scholars on the Confucian classics. It was painted for Chen’s aunt in celebration of her 60th birthday.
Chen’s painting style is archaic in the use of fine outlines and brilliant coloring with mineral pigments. In depicting the figures, he uses the “iron-wire” brush style (fine, even lines) with deliberate control. The faces are elongated and exaggerated. A few ritual bronzes lend the scene an antique flavor.
Chen’s painting style is archaic in the use of fine outlines and brilliant coloring with mineral pigments. In depicting the figures, he uses the “iron-wire” brush style (fine, even lines) with deliberate control. The faces are elongated and exaggerated. A few ritual bronzes lend the scene an antique flavor.
Provenance
Wan Chengzi 萬承紫 [1775–after 1837]; Xu Weiren 徐渭仁 [1788–1853]; Sun Zutong 孫祖同 [1894–1937] (early 20th century); (C. C. Wang 王季遷 [1907–2003], New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1961); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1961–)
Accession Number
1961.89
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
Image: 172.8 x 55.7 cm (68 1/16 x 21 15/16 in.); Overall: 293.9 x 71 cm (115 11/16 x 27 15/16 in.); with knobs: 293.9 x 79 cm (115 11/16 x 31 1/8 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
