Modern Chinese Paintings: The Reyes Collection in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
A catalogue of Chinese paintings from the Reyes Collection by Shelagh Vainker (published Oxford, 1996).
Publications online: 141 objects
- Reference URL
Actions
Man and boy with plum blossoms and a crane
-
Literature notes
Figure paintings, particularly those depicting immortals or legendary heroes, were popular subjects for commemorative or New Year Pictures. This work is not unsigned, but the calligraphy is unclear and it is only possible to establish that the artist was from Linchuan in Jiangxi province. The extensive use of courtesy words suggests that it was a valued commission. -
Description
Lin Bu was a Chinese poet renowned among Northern Song dynasty emperors, and whose poems about plum blossoms were greatly admired by scholars, so that his story has become a favourite subject of literati painting. This painting contains almost all of the typical features of a painting of Lin Bu, such as plum blossoms, cranes, and a servant boy. The artist has inscribed a poem at the top of the painting, in which he regards Lin as an immortal in the heavenly scenes of West Lake, and wishes to follow him. As in the painting of Lin Bu by Min Zhen [EA1964.83], the artist mainly applies ink to show a simple and elegant literati taste.
-
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- 1899
- Associated people
-
Lin Bu (AD 967 - 1028) (subject)
- Material and technique
- ink and colour on paper
- Dimensions
- 142 x 77 cm (height x width)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Presented in honour of the forthcoming 70th birthdays of Jose Mauricio and Angelita Trinidad Reyes, 1995.
- Accession no.
- EA1995.248
-
Further reading
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. 129 on p. 94, illus. p. 94 fig. 129
Past Exhibition
see (1)
Location
-
- currently in research collection
Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.
Publications online
-
Modern Chinese Paintings: The Reyes Collection in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Figure paintings, particularly those depicting immortals or legendary heroes, were popular subjects for commemorative or New Year Pictures. This work is not unsigned, but the calligraphy is unclear and it is only possible to establish that the artist was from Linchuan in Jiangxi province. The extensive use of courtesy words suggests that it was a valued commission.
Notice
Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.
© 2013 University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum