Artwork Page for Mount Hua

Details / Information for Mount Hua

Mount Hua

華山

1506

Tang Yin 唐寅

(Chinese, 1470–1523)
Culture
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper
Measurements
Painting: 116.4 x 41.4 cm (45 13/16 x 16 5/16 in.); Overall with knobs: 213.5 x 66.7 cm (84 1/16 x 26 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1969.116
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

In this work, Tang Yin accumulates towering mountain summits in the manner of the Sung master, Li Tang, to capture the monumental presence of his subject. Tang Yin’s angular brushstrokes and ink washes of varied intensity give texture to the rocky surface and accent the play of light. Mount Hua is situated in southern Shaanxi province in North China. Hardly accessible during Tang Yin’s time, the mountains were frequented by immortality seekers to dwell or collect herbal drugs there.

Tang Yin's potentially brilliant career was shattered in 1499 after he went to the capital to take the jinshi examination. He got entangled in a bribery case that caused him to spend seven years in prison. After his release, Tang returned to Suzhou, and settled on a career as a professional painter. One of Tang's few dated works, Mount Hua was painted seven years after this incident.
A hanging scroll in muted grays and blacks depicts a vertical landscape of jagged, undulating mountains. A massive peak rises above hazy white mist, while dense clusters of brushstrokes convey trees with brown and green foliage nestled near small buildings. A waterfall streams down the rocky face into a pale river. Vertical columns of Chinese calligraphy and red square seals occupy the upper right corner against the cream paper scroll.

Mount Hua

1506

Tang Yin

(Chinese, 1470–1523)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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