RISING EARLY IN SPRING TO LAMENT FLOWERS

Details

WEN SHU (1595-1634)
RISING EARLY IN SPRING TO LAMENT FLOWERS
Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk
Inscribed and signed, with five seals of the artist
Dated xinwei year (1631)
Five collectors’ seals; two of Liu Shu (1759-1861), one each of Ge Jinlang (1837-1890), Wu Puxin (1897-1987), and the Wuqi An collection (20th century)
Titleslip by Xie Zhiliu (1910-1997)
44 x 22 ½ in. (111.8 x 57 cm.)

Provenance

Formerly in the collection of Wong Nan-p'ing (1924-1985).
Private Collection, US.

Literature

Ge Jinlang, Airiyinlou shuhualu, 1881.
Suzuki Kei, Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Paintings, vol. 2, no. S10-007.
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Views from Jade Terrace: Chinese Women Artists, Indianapolis, 1988, pp. 38-39, note 39.
Yale University Art Gallery, The Jade Studio: Masterpieces of Ming and Qing Painting and Calligraphy from the Wong Nan-p'ing Collection, New Haven, 1994, pp. 122-127, no. 26.
Sydney L. Moss Ltd, Escape from the Dusty World: Chinese Paintings and Literati Works of Art, London, 1999, pp. 22-25, no. 2.
Tian Hong, Overseas Collectors in the Twentieth Century: Wang Nanping's Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings, Tianjin, 2015, vol. 2, p. 243, no. 76.

Lot Essay

This painting by Wen Shu, one of the most important women artists of the Ming dynasty, depicts the poetic theme "Rising Early in the Spring to Lament Flowers," as indicated by her inscription. This subject was made popular in literature by the Tang dynasty-poet Bai Juyi (772-846). As Wen Shu also noted in her inscription, her composition was inspired by Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322), whose descendant was her husband. The painting by Zhao Mengfu of this theme is no longer extant. The clothing of the lady recalls Tang dynasty fashions and is echoed in similar paintings of this theme, such as one by Miss Qiu (active mid-late 16th century) in the National Palace Museum, Taipei and another painted in 1768 by Lu Can and Xue Chou (both 18th century) in the Palace Museum, Beijing.

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