Landscape after Ni Zan

仿倪瓚設色山水圖

1707

Wang Yuanqi 王原祁

(Chinese, 1642–1715)

Culture

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper

Measurements

Painting: 80.6 x 43.8 cm (31 3/4 x 17 1/4 in.); Overall with knobs: 217.7 x 68.5 cm (85 11/16 x 26 15/16 in.)

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund 1954.583

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Location

Not on view

Description

Wang Yuanqi, an official in Emperor Kangxi’s (reigned 1662–1722) court, grew up in an artistic family. Like other mainstream painters of the Orthodox School, he followed a canon of earlier styles and artists endorsed by Ming calligrapher Dong Qichang (1555–1636).

Here, Wang drew inspiration from Ni Zan (1301–1374), a Yuan dynasty painter known for his simple compositions and spare use of ink. Master Ni seldom used color, but Wang added green and ochre washes to the trees, cottages, and hills in this landscape. Painting was a way for Wang to relieve the pressures of his official duties.