Fan with Clerical Script Calligraphy, c. 1780
Gui Fuexpand_more
Ink on paperexpand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 96.30.5
Not on Viewexpand_more
Folding fans did not appear in China until the early Ming dynasty. They were extremely useful in the high humidity of the Jiangnan region. Artists found the unusual shape an intriguing challenge, and the literati often decorated their fans with delicate scenes of birds, flowers, and landscapes, as well as calligraphy. Suzhou scholars signed, sealed, and inscribed their fan paintings just as they did their albums and handscrolls. Fans were common gifts among the literati and eventually came to be highly prized and collected as art. Folding fans were usually mounted on bamboo frames, which were typically removed so the painting could be mounted flat, as is the one shown here.
During the late Qing dynasty, the influence of archaeological studies and epigraphy (the study of ancient bronze and stone inscriptions) moved many calligraphers to devote themselves to writing older clerical and seal scripts. Gui Fu was considered one of the most important clerical script (li-shu) specialists.
Details
- Title
- Fan with Clerical Script Calligraphy
- Artist Life
- 1736 - 1809
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 96.30.5
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.
No Image Available