清 佚名 倣文徵明 深林調茗 軸|Scholar Seated in Grove
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
26 1/8 x 10 in. (66.4 x 25.4 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · late Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1913
Accession Number
13.220.17
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the serene world of Chinese literati painting, this hanging, titled *Scholar Seated in Grove* (深林調茗軸), captures a moment of quiet contemplation amid lush foliage. Created by an unidentified artist during the late Qing dynasty (4–1911), it emulates the refined style of Wen Zhengming (1470–1559), a master of the Wu school from Ming-era Suzhou. Wen's influence is evident in the delicate ink washes and subtle colors on paper, evoking a scholar brewing tea in a deep forest grove—a classic motif symbolizing harmony with nature and scholarly retreat. Hanging scrolls like this were prized for thei...
About the Artist
Wen Zhengming|Unidentified artist · 1470–1559
Wen Zhengming (1470–1559), born in Suzhou to a modestly successful scholar-official family, embodied the ideal of the Ming dynasty literati artist. His father, Wen Lin, introduced him early to a leading Suzhou calligrapher, fostering his foundational skills in that art. A late bloomer, Wen studied under the master Shen Zhou, whose guidance shaped his profound reverence for Song and Yuan dynasty ar...