Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

A catalogue of the Ashmolean collection of Chinese paintings by Shelagh Vainker (published Oxford, 2000).

Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford by Shelagh Vainker

Publications online: 222 objects

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Eight paintings and their cover from Remains at Mount Yu album

  • Literature notes

    Weng Tonghe was from Changshu in Jiangsu province. He came top in the public examinations of 1856 and was rewarded with numerous high ranking official positions. In 1898 he retired from public life. He was a skilled calligrapher, and also a writer; his poetry and diaries are published.
  • Description

    Weng Tonghe was from Changshu, Jiangsu province. He had a successful political career, and became the tutor of Qing dynasty emperors Tongzhi (r. 1861-1875) and Guangxu (r. 1875-1908). He is, however, also known for his calligraphy. The inscription on the first page of this album [EA1966.2.a] reads: ‘The album of sixteen leaves on the remains of Mount Yu is the real original work of Shigu xiansheng [aka Wang Hui (1632-1717)]. I have painted copies over ten times, but never got a satisfying one. [For] the current copy, [I] shut my doors for months, and there was absolutely no distracting noise. [I] look at [it and feel that] although the brushwork and colours do not follow the regulations of painting, [I] have managed to get a slightly similar appearance.’

  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (place of creation)
    AsiaChina Jiangsu province (Mount Yu) (subject)
    Date
    1902
    Artist/maker
    Weng Tonghe (1830 - 1904) (artist)
    after Wang Hui (1632 - 1717) (artist)
    Material and technique
    wood, with calligraphy in ink on paper; ink and colour on paper
    Dimensions
    each cover 32.5 x 41.1 x 2.7 cm (height x width x depth)
    mounts 32.2 x 41.1 cm (height x width)
    pages 27.4 x 34.3 cm (height x width)
    Material index
    organicvegetal wood,
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    9
    Credit line
    Purchased, 1966.
    Accession no.
    EA1966.2
  • Further reading

    Vainker, Shelagh, Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2000), no. 134 on p. 153, illus. pp. 154-157 figs 134a-h

Location

    • currently in research collection

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Publications online

  • Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford by Shelagh Vainker

    Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

    Weng Tonghe was from Changshu in Jiangsu province. He came top in the public examinations of 1856 and was rewarded with numerous high ranking official positions. In 1898 he retired from public life. He was a skilled calligrapher, and also a writer; his poetry and diaries are published.
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