Travelers on the Road to Shu
16th-17th century
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1909.224
Tags
About this artwork
To 1909
Art Historical Context
"Travelers on the Road to Shu" captures the dramatic journey through rugged mountain passes, a theme long celebrated in Chinese art. Created during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the painting was once attributed to the renowned artist Qiu Ying, whose elegant figure work and meticulous landscapes made him one of the most admired masters of his era. Though the attribution is no longer certain, the work reflects the refined tastes of Ming collectors who prized detailed, colorful scenes of travel and nature. Executed in the classic blue-and-green style, the painting uses vibrant mineral pigments t...