Album of Miscellaneous Subjects

early 1650s

Fan Qi

Fan Qi (Chinese, 1616-aft 1694)

Chinese Art

Album of Miscellaneous Subjects, early 1650s. Fan Qi (Chinese, 1616-aft 1694). Album of ten leaves; ink and light color on silk; image: 12.6 x 17.3 cm (4 15/16 x 6 13/16 in.); overall: 21 x 22 cm (8 1/4 x 8 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1975.22

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Fan Qi
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: album of ten leaves; ink and light color on silk
Medium: album, leaves, ink, light, color, silk
Dimensions: Image: 12.6 x 17.3 cm (4 15/16 x 6 13/16 in.); Overall: 21 x 22 cm (8 1/4 x 8 11/16 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: Artist's signature on the tenth painting: Zhongling Fan Qi 鐘陵樊圻 ["Fan Qi of Zhongling" (Zhongling is another name for Nanjing.)] Artist's ten seals, one on each painting: Fan Qi 樊圻. Inscription: 10 poems, 1 colophon, and 29 additional seals: 1 poem and 3 seals of Wang Wu 王武 (1632–1690); 2 poems and 6 seals of Han Tan 韓菼 (1637–1704); 2 poems and 6 seals of Xu Fang 徐枋 (1622–1694); 4 poems and 10 seals of Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705); 1 poem and 3 seals of Li Bing 李炳 (17th century); 1 colophon and 1 seal of Tomioka Tessai 富岡鐵齋 (1836-1924). Inscription: Leaf 1. Poem by Wang Wu 王武 (1632–1690) A narrow path coiling, winds across rock foundations;/ Old vines and ancient trees meet the sunset's slanting rays./ Unaware that my small boat has gone so far,/ By the time it reverses its oars, the green mountains will be half-covered with clouds. Inscription: Leaf 2. Poem by Han Tan 韓菼 (1637–1704) A thousand feet of red cliffs look like a sculptured flower of Fu-yung;/ In one glance, the long bridge joins adjacent ridges./ Furthermore a wine shop stands in a bamboo grove;/ The fellow who bought some good wine is drunk on the eastern shore of the stream. Inscription: Leaf 3. Poem by Xu Fang 徐枋 (1622–1694) Green are the reeds, the sun not yet set;/ Tree foliage and mountain colors divide the lake in two halves./ A solitary recluse sits upon a flat bluff,/ Occasionally observing white clouds rising from the mountain tops. Inscription: Leaf 4. Poem by Xu Fang 徐枋 (1622–1694) By chance, I start my journey from the watershed to remote regions,/ Suddenly I sight the silhouette of mountains - myriad expanses of green./ What is this "Come-flying" Peak which now does not recede,/ Its rocky walls, linked to heaven, are drenched by a waterfall. Remark: Fei-lai (Come-flying) Peak, a rocky hill at West Lake, Hangzhou, was said to have flown there from its original site, the Vulture Peak in Central India. Inscription: Leaf 5. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) That stone path surrounded by streams - for whom was it created?/ Leaning on my staff, I walk and hum, arriving alone./ As soon as I ascend to gaze at these mountains, my happiness increases,/ Every morning the moistening dew makes slippery the green moss. Inscription: Leaf 6. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) The bright moon emerges through the willow,/ The fragrance of flowers is already difficult to retain./ Listening above these tall branches,/ I sense that faraway in my native place autumn has arrived./ Obstructed, all the diminished waters flow,/ Abruptly the sound of a lute wafts to and fro./ A strong wind, unabated, blows among, the willow branches. Inscription: Leaf 7. Poem by Han Tan 韓菼 (1637–1704) Thoughts of autumn in the nuptial chamber with the new chill arising,/ The white frost all pervasive with a bright moon shining./ Outside the window, a crisp wind conveys the sound of crickets./ Within this quiet dream, I seem to sense the fragrance of orchids. Remark: Folk superstition holds that dreaming of orchids foretells the birth of a son. Inscription: Leaf 8. Poem by Li Bing 李炳 (17th century) Maple leaves drift in the wind, the autumn gusts bracing,/ Hibiscus flowers steeped with water, the evening breeze light./ The moonlight's slanting beams shine upon dreaming lovers./ No wonder that pair of fowl should dream of the absent partners. Remark: The poem is an allusion to a Ming Play, Yuan Yang Meng 鴛鴦夢, by Ye Xiaowan 葉小纨 (c. 1613-c. 1657), in which two separated lovers can meet each other only in their dreams. Inscription: Leaf 9. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) Ancient trees share the slanting rays of the setting sun/ Chilly ravens hover round their branches/ The leader of the flock thinks this is a good place to rest,/ Evening being the time for returning./ This flock is the so-called a filial crow,/ Who, in disgorging their food [to feed their young], have compassionate hearts,/ Were the people in the world all like this,/ Fine talent would be everywhere. Inscription: Leaf 10. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) Green bamboo stand alone with a snowy covering,/ In the deep recesses of a secluded valley, the evening breeze is light./ White egrets are lean as shadows with the cold ripples frozen,/ They enter the gorge not just to admire the fish.
Departments: Chinese Art
Accession Number: 1975.22
Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Exhibitions: Visions of Landscape: East and West, 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 Gallery Rotation (Gallery 122). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (March 4-July 23, 2003). 1975.22.2 only, Main Asian Gallery Rotation (Gallery 122). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (July 23-October 27, 2003). 1975.22.8 only, Main Asian Gallery Rotation (Gallery 122). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (October 27, 2003-March 10, 2004). 1975.22.9 only, Main Asian Gallery Rotation (Gallery 122). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (March 10-April 7, 2004). 1975.22.1 only, Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 242). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 7-July 7, 2015).
Rights Statement: CC0