Artwork Page for Twelve Views of Tiger Hill

Details / Information for Twelve Views of Tiger Hill

Twelve Views of Tiger Hill

虎丘十二景圖

after 1490

Shen Zhou 沈周

(Chinese, 1427–1509)
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Culture
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
Album of twelve leaves; ink or ink and slight color on paper
Measurements
Overall: 36.5 x 49.9 cm (14 3/8 x 19 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1964.371
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

Views of Tiger Hill depicts a historic site a few miles northwest of Suzhou. The scenes simulate a visit from arriving by boat at the foot of the mountain to climbing to Cloudy Cliff Monastery. Representations of the artist’s mature style, Shen Zhou included views in subtle colors in the suite of monochrome scenes.

A Suzhou native, Shen Zhou was supported by family wealth and rejected an official career in favor of life as a retired scholar. Turning to painting in midlife, he is regarded as the founder of the Wu School of painting, with its center in Suzhou.
A horizontal woven textile cover features a muted purple background with repeating geometric patterns. Green and gold dragon-like figures in circles alternate with smaller squares of stylized floral motifs. A vertical cream paper strip is centered with five black calligraphic characters. Below this, a small white label contains blue handwriting. Interlocking geometric lines form a subtle texture across the fabric surface, creating a dense and rhythmic composition of traditional patterns.

Twelve Views of Tiger Hill

after 1490

Shen Zhou

(Chinese, 1427–1509)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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