SWAN, FALCON, AND LOTUS

Details

ANONYMOUS (MING DYNASTY)
SWAN, FALCON, AND LOTUS
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and color on silk
Spurious cipher in the style of Emperor Huizong (r. 1100-1125)
One illegible seal
45 x 14 ¼ in. (114.2 x 61.5 cm.)

Provenance

Former collection of Professor Kiang Kan-hu, Montreal.
Acquired by Mr. English Cody of New York City from Ton-Ying & Company, 1936.

Literature

Adrienne Williams, "Elderly Gentlemen Viewing the Kiang Collection", Asia, December 1933.

Lot Essay

This Ming dynasty painting depicts a gyrfalcon (haidongqing) swooping down on a swan in flight during the spring seasonal hunts. This scene is an example of the swan-hunt theme, which originated with the Khitans of the Liao dynasty (907-1125) and then became one of the most important visual motifs for the Jurchen in the Jin dynasty (1115-1234).

More from Fine Chinese Paintings

View All