Artwork Page for Lady Xuanwen Giving Instruction on the Rites of Zhou

Details / Information for Lady Xuanwen Giving Instruction on the Rites of Zhou

Lady Xuanwen Giving Instruction on the Rites of Zhou

宣文君授經圖

1638

Chen Hongshou 陳洪綬

(Chinese, 1598/99–1652)
Culture
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Measurements
Image: 172.8 x 55.7 cm (68 1/16 x 21 15/16 in.); Overall: 293.9 x 71 cm (115 11/16 x 27 15/16 in.); with knobs: 293.9 x 79 cm (115 11/16 x 31 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1961.89
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Chen Hongshou's long inscription at the top of the painting compares his virtuous aunt with the historical exemplar, Lady Xuanwen.

Description

This painting by Chen Hongshou depicts the story of Xuanwen Jun, or Lady of Literary Propagation, at a venerable age, instructing young scholars on the Confucian classics. It was painted for Chen’s aunt in celebration of her 60th birthday.

Chen’s painting style is archaic in the use of fine outlines and brilliant coloring with mineral pigments. In depicting the figures, he uses the “iron-wire” brush style (fine, even lines) with deliberate control. The faces are elongated and exaggerated. A few ritual bronzes lend the scene an antique flavor.
A hanging scroll depicts trees flanking winding water in the lower third, people with light skin tone gathered in the center, and winding clouds extending across the landscape below Chinese calligraphy (see "Inscriptions") in the upper third. Xuanwen Jun, an old woman wearing layers of robes sits on a platform flanked by rows of standing women, facing in. Below, two rows of men kneel, also facing in. Fine lines outline the scene.

Lady Xuanwen Giving Instruction on the Rites of Zhou

1638

Chen Hongshou

(Chinese, 1598/99–1652)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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