The Ninth Day Literary Gathering at Xing’an [Temporary Retreat]

九日行庵文讌圖

1743

and Ye Fanglin 葉芳林

(Chinese, active late 1600s–mid-1700s)

Culture

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

Medium

Handscroll; ink and color on silk

Measurements

Image: 32.4 x 201.2 cm (12 3/4 x 79 3/16 in.); Overall: 33.5 x 893 cm (13 3/16 x 351 9/16 in.)

Credit Line

Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 1979.72

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

The two hosts and their fourteen guests were all officials, scholars, poets, painters, and salt merchants.

Description

By the 1700s, Yangzhou was flourishing both economically and culturally as the most prosperous city in China, having surpassed all other Jiangnan cities in their creation of gardens. This group portrait commemorates a literary gathering in the private garden of the salt merchants and art patrons Ma Yueguan (1688–1755) and his brother Ma Yuelu (1697–after 1766) in Yangzhou. Ma Yueguan received imperial recognition for providing financial aid and food relief for those affected by flood and drought. Ma Yueguan is seen seated at the end of the painting holding an open scroll while Ma Yuelu stands behind the qin instrument player. Among the guests were officials, scholars, poets, painters, and merchants, a mix of local members of a poetry club reflecting increasing social diversity.