Landscape in the Style of Ni Zan (Translation)
仿倪瓚山水冊頁 清晚期 吳允淶 紙本設色 (Primary Title)

Wu Yunlai, Chinese, ca.1850 - 1910 (Artist)

Educational
late 19th century
Chinese
Paintings
Works On Paper
One leaf of an album of twelve leaves; ink and color on paper
Overall: 11 3/8 × 13 7/8 in. (28.89 × 35.24 cm)
Image: 9 1/8 × 11 1/4 in. (23.18 × 28.58 cm)
2005.49
Not on view

Wu’s Landscapes of Southern China: A master of literati painting in the late Qing dynasty, Wu Yunlai, also known as Wu Zhongyuan, was born in Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou). Trained by his mother in painting, calligraphy, and poetry, Wu producedan outstanding array of works in various mediums from landscape painting on paper or silk to painted ceramic panels. The twelve landscape paintings in this album depict the serene and reclusive scenes of southern China, a subject favored by educated elites. Stylistically these paintings illustrate Wu’s study of early masters and his creative individual style, evident in his vivid use of color and his success in poetry and calligraphy.

Landscape in the Style of Ni Zan: This paintingimitates a landscape by Wang Yuanqi (1642–1715) in the style of the earlier Yuan dynasty master Ni Zan (1306–1374). The foreground of the painting depicts the simple hut of an official in retreat from the political world. A river separates the foreground from distant mountains. This juxtaposition of compositional elements was first developed by Ni Zan.

Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
允淶 Yunlai
吳允淶印 Wu Yunlai yin, 仲遠 Zhongyuan
石師仿雲林山色小景其景致如此
Gift of the Family of the Honorable and Mrs. Walter S. Robertson
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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