The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 1

Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 1

1200s
(1127-1279)
Album, ink on paper
Sheet: 34.2 x 38.4 cm (13 7/16 x 15 1/8 in.); Mounted: 38.9 x 41.5 cm (15 5/16 x 16 5/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou and Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange) 2004.1.1
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

A pot of purple crepe myrtle blossoms (ziwei 紫微) is directly before the Ziwei Emperor 紫微大帝.

Description

Leaf 1 portrays one of the three supreme deities in the Daoist religion. Dressed in a garment and hat similar to that of an earthly emperor, this heavenly being holds a tablet in a posture also reminiscent of a mortal ruler. He is shaded by a pair of fans, surrounded by female consorts and their maidens, and attended by minister-like figures on both sides. Again, as seen in the mundane world, two guards holding weapons stand immediately in front of and below the platform that supports this majestic figure. Despite the symmetry and hierarchical composition, the whole scene comes alive in a wonderful sense of clarity and subtlety. Sketched in fine lines and evincing a wonderful sense of flow, especially in the draperies, the figural group is fully integrated in an architectural setting that is just as exquisite.
  • Wang Hui 王翬 [1632–1717]
    Li Jiale 李嘉樂 [jinshi of 1863]
    Zhu Hang 朱沆 [active 19th century]
    1910–?
    Dr. F. R. (Fredrik Robert) Martin [1868–1933], Stockholm, Sweden, and Munich, Germany
    ?–1947
    Mrs. L. M. Morris [20th century], England
    March 25, 1947
    (Sotheby's, London, sale, 25 March 1947, lot 118, sold to Stephen Junkunc III)
    1947–78
    István “Stephen" Junkunc III [1904–1978], by descent to his son Stephen Junkunc IV
    1978–2004
    (Stephen Junkunc IV [b. 1937], Miami, FL, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2004–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Martin, F. R. Zeichnungen nach Wu tao-tze aus der götter- und sagenwelt Chinas. München: F. Bruckmann a.g, 1913.
    Christie, Manson & Woods International Inc. Fine Chinese Ceramics, Paintings and Works of Art. 21 September 2000. Lot 204. Reproduced: pp. 141-46
    "Art of Asia Acquired by North American Museums, 2003-2004." Archives of Asian Art 56 (2006): pp. 109-32. Reproduced: p. 113, fig. 6
    Chung, Anita. "Re-emergence: New Chinese Galleries and Art Acquisitions of The Cleveland Museum of Art." Orientations vol 44 no. 8 (November/December 2013): 64-75. Reproduced: p. 65, fig. 2
    Chou, Ju-hsi and Anita Chung. Silent poetry: Chinese paintings from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2015. Reproduced: pp. 174-195
  • {{cite web|title=Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 1|url=false|author=|year=1200s|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2004.1.1