Landscape in the Style of Dong Yuan and Juran

c. 1650

Gong Xian

Gong Xian (Chinese, 1599–1689)

Chinese Art

Landscape in the Style of Dong Yuan and Juran, c. 1650. Gong Xian (Chinese, 1599–1689). Hanging scroll, ink with white pigment on silk; image: 216.6 x 57.3 cm (85 1/4 x 22 9/16 in.); overall: 285.8 x 75.5 cm (112 1/2 x 29 3/4 in.); with knobs: 258.8 x 90.1 cm (101 7/8 x 35 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1969.123

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Gong Xian
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: hanging scroll, ink with white pigment on silk
Medium: hanging, scroll, ink, white, pigment, silk
Dimensions: Image: 216.6 x 57.3 cm (85 1/4 x 22 9/16 in.); Overall: 285.8 x 75.5 cm (112 1/2 x 29 3/4 in.); with knobs: 258.8 x 90.1 cm (101 7/8 x 35 1/2 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: 畫家董巨，實開南宗。既無剛根之氣，復無刻畫之跡。後之作者或以才見，或以法稱。唯董巨則幾乎道矣。然逞才則離法，泥法則叛道。至道無可道。說者謂即歛才就法之謂道。問之董巨，而董巨不知，忽乎微矣。此幅余二十年前舊作。藏之新安吳氏。吳君晉明寶之若家珍。後携之金陵。命余題識。余因與晉明論畫及此，并紀之。非敢曰此效法董巨而有得焉者也。庚戌冬杪半畝居人龔賢。 [印]龔半千; 野遺賢; [左下]龔賢; [上]可能另有龔賢一印。 Translation: Artist's inscription, signature, and 4 seals: In truth, it was masters like Dong Yuan and Juran who created the Southern school. [In their works], we observe neither the brute and unyielding force, nor traces of labored delineation. Later artists may be known for their talents or for their grasp of methods. Only Dong Yuan and Juran could approximate the Way [or Dao]. For those who allow talent to have its way may depart from the methods; whereas those who abide by methods may end up betraying the Way. There are those who claim that one may gain the Way by suppressing their talents while adhering to the methods. If we were to pose this question to Dong Yuan and Juran, they would not know what to say. How ironic! I painted this work twenty years ago. It was in the collection of Mr. Wu of Xin’an. Mr. Wu, whose name is Jinming, treasured it like a family heirloom. Later, he brought it to Jinling and asked me to inscribe it. Thereupon I discussed the art of painting with him and recorded our conversation here. I dare not say that I was emulating Dong and Ju and thereby gained insights. At the end of winter of the gengxu year [1670]. Ban mu ju ren, Gong Xian. [2 seals] Gong Banqian; Yeyi Xian. [seal, lower left corner] Gong Xian. [seal above, undecipherable, but probably a seal of Gong Xian]. Inscription: 2 additional seals of Cheng Qi 程琦 (1911-1988)
Departments: Chinese Art
Accession Number: 1969.123
Credit Line: Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund
Exhibitions: Year in Review: 1969, The Colors of Ink, Visions of Landscape: East and West, Mountains, Rocks, and Water: Landscape Painting in Asia, Eight Dynasties of Chinese Painting. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (November 7, 1980-January 4, 1981); The Cleveland Museum of Art (February 10-March 29, 1981); Tokyo National Museum (October 4-November 17, 1982)., Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 119). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (July 16-October 28, 2003)., Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 242). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (November 21, 2013-July 28, 2014).
Rights Statement: CC0