River Landscape, c. 1300
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Ink on silkexpand_more
Gift of funds from Louis W. Hill, Jr.expand_more 84.82
Not on Viewexpand_more
This handscroll opens to present a panorama of riverbanks with a pine-shaded country villa on the right. An elderly gentleman is receiving a visitor. A traveler rides on donkey back along twisted footpaths and open bridges, his servant following him. Across the river, the rolling hills present a vista that curves to the left, as if drifting between sky and water.
The handscroll demonstrates a transition of Chinese landscape painting from the Northern Song (960–1127) style of grandeur and monumentality to a more lyrical, impressionistic depiction of nature that typified Southern Song and Yuan painting. The picture evokes a popular theme in Chinese landscape painting known as “visiting recluses,” which relates to the idea of being a hermit—retreating from society into a life of seclusion.
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Details
- Title
- River Landscape
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 84.82
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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