Artwork Page for Road to Shu

Details / Information for Road to Shu

Road to Shu

蜀栈行旅图

1743

Yuan Yao 袁耀

(Chinese, active mid-1700s)
Culture
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Measurements
Painting only: 187 x 256.5 cm (73 5/8 x 101 in.); Overall with knobs: 270 x 284 cm (106 5/16 x 111 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 2019.167
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
Print

Description

Few works by the Yuan workshops in Yangzhou present a continuous composition of such monumental scale as this hanging scroll. Road to Shu (in Sichuan province) depicts the trade of goods over long distances and through mountainous terrain. Busy travelers lead mules over footbridges, mountain paths wind along steep slopes, and soaring bridges connect peaks divided by deep gorges.

The Yuan studios produced paintings to decorate the residences of wealthy Yangzhou salt merchants and princely palaces. The title Road to Shu refers to the historical drama of the flight of Tang emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712–56) to Sichuan in the aftermath of the An Lushan Rebellion (755–63). At the same time, the scenery alludes to Anhui, the mountainous native country of many of the salt merchants and their trade routes in northern parts of the empire.
A vertical hanging scroll depicts towering, muted brown mountains interspersed with clusters of dark red and green foliage. Winding paths lead past tiled buildings on our left and center, where tiny figures roam, including a person on horseback in the middle ground. Pale mist fills the valleys between craggy peaks. Red square seals are stamped in the lower left corner and along the center right edge.

Road to Shu

1743

Yuan Yao

(Chinese, active mid-1700s)
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork