Seven-Character Couplet in Seal Script (Translation)
篆書七言對聯 清光緒 姚覲元 灑金紙本 (Primary Title)
Yao Jinyuan 姚覲元, Chinese, died 1902 (Artist)
Yao Guanyuan, 1902 (Artist)
Yao Jinyuan came from an aristocratic family with a rich collection of books and art, and held several posts in Beijing, as well as Sichuan and Guangdong provinces. Also as a scholar and bibliographer, he was well-known for his calligraphy, especially works in seal script. This couplet transcribes a poem by Du Fu (712-770), describing the joy of his solitary life in Suzhou after retirement. It translates: “with blue sky on sunny day, flowers and grasses exquisite; with zithers, table and cane, my humble home tranquil.”
Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
姚覲元 Yao Jinyuan
姚覲元字彥侍 Yao Jinyuan zi Yanshi
青天白日花草麗, 琴瑟几杖柴門幽. (The blue sky on a sunny day, flowers and grasses exquisite; the zither, desk and walking cane, my humble home tranquil.) 光緒十有二年歲在丙戌夏四月 (12th year of Guangxu, 4th month of bingxu year in summer)
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment and partial gift of Y.T. Bay 裴元俊 Collection
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