A catalogue of Chinese paintings from the Reyes Collection by Shelagh Vainker (published Oxford, 1996).
Li Kui is a famous character from The Water Margin. As his nickname ‘Black Whirlwind’ indicates, he is always depicted as a muscular man with a dark complexion and fiery eyes. His other nickname is ‘Iron Ox’, as he has a short temper and is tough and stubborn as an ox. Li is known as an illiterate warrior, but ironically the painter Huang Yongyu depicts him here reciting poetry. In the inscription, Huang Yongyu comments: ‘Nowadays many poems are in the style of Li Kui’s works. Isn’t it a pleasure to read his original work?’.
Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 24 September-1 December 1996, Modern Chinese Paintings: The Reyes Collection in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Vainker, Shelagh (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 1996), no. 32 on p. 34, illus. p. 34 fig. 32
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