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Landscapes

1892

Ren Yu 任預

(Chinese, 1853–1901)
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Culture
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Medium
Set of four hanging scrolls; color on paper
Measurements
Overall: 149.8 x 40.7 cm (59 x 16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Charles L. Freer 1915.97
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

This set of four seasonal landscape hanging scrolls are by Ren Yu. He was the youngest, most eccentric, and least prolific of the Four Rens, a family of prominent painters in Shanghai during the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Perhaps due to his opium habit and subsequent financial difficulties, Ren Yu tended to be lackadaisical in his work. The few remaining high-quality paintings hint at his artistic potential lost to opium.

Though Ren’s premature death left his artistic promise unfulfilled, his paintings were acquired and donated to the museum by Charles Lang Freer (1854–1919), a wealthy businessman and art collector from Detroit. As Freer had hoped, this donation of Ren Yu paintings inspired the young Cleveland Museum of Art to continue to expand its own Chinese painting collection.
Four hanging scrolls in ink and color depict mountainous landscapes. Panels feature rounded, undulating peaks, a dark mountain emerging from white mist, a mountainside with bare trees and small figures, and pale, snowy massifs above travelers on horseback. Fine brushwork and soft ink washes create depth within the hazy, atmospheric scenes. Each scroll contains columns of black Chinese calligraphy and square, red stamps (see "Inscriptions"), balancing naturalistic scenery with formal records.

Landscapes

1892

Ren Yu

(Chinese, 1853–1901)
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

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