Pipa (Loquats)
c. 1888–89
Xugu
Xugu (Chinese, 1823–1896)
Chinese Art
Pipa (Loquats), c. 1888–89. Xugu (Chinese, 1823–1896). Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper; painting: 112.6 x 52.2 cm (44 5/16 x 20 9/16 in.); overall (no knobs): 231 x 70.5 cm (90 15/16 x 27 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1999.6 Xugu was a military commander and then a Buddhist priest before becoming a major figure in Shanghai's art scene.
- Maker/Artist
- Xugu
- Classification
- Painting
- Formatted Medium
- hanging scroll, ink and color on paper
- Dimensions
- Painting: 112.6 x 52.2 cm (44 5/16 x 20 9/16 in.); Overall (no knobs): 231 x 70.5 cm (90 15/16 x 27 3/4 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: 友山仁兄大人屬即教之，虛谷. [印]虛谷書畫 Translation: Artist’s inscription and seal: [The painting] was dedicated to Youshan Ren xiong da ren. Xugu. Inscription: 未接虛公一經書2，夜臺畫興近何如。/ 聾丞今日狂談藝，更有誰人能起予。 雨亭以友山所貽虛谷和上畫屬，题於泰山殘石樓中，戊戌三日二十日，高邕并記。 Translation: Inscription by Gao Yong 高邕 (1820–1921), dated 1898: The book of poetry by Master Xu[gu] is still open./ On this night terrace, can any painting inspiration get close?/ The present Deaf Assistant Magistrate [i.e. Gao Yong] discusses art with all the fervor./ Is anyone there to inspire me? Monk Xugu’s painting for Youshan is presented to Yuting. Inscribed and recorded by Gao Yong, at Canshi Lou in Mount Tai, on the 20th day, 3rd month of the wuxu year [1898]. Inscription: 虚谷上人，余未見其人。觀高聾題大氏，亦海上高流也。其畫下筆如風，隨意涂抹，皆成逸趣。此幀畫枇杷纍纍如缀金，坐其下若咽洞庭五月涼也！ 雨亭君所藏，今以貽頌周先生。清道人題。 Translation: Inscription by Li Ruiqing 李瑞清 (1867–1920): I have not had the fortune of meeting Master Xugu. From the writing of the Deaf-Mute Gao [i.e. Gao Yong], he must have been a lofty presence in Shanghai. In this painting, his brush sweeps across like wind. Whatever he does turns into untrammeled poetry. It depicts the loquats as bundles of gold. Were one to sit below the tree, it would be like inhaling the cool atmosphere in the fifth month at Lake Dongting! Yuting once collected this work. Now it is given to [Zhang] Songzhou. Inscribed by Qing Daoren.
- Departments
- Chinese Art
- Accession Number
- 1999.6
- Credit Line
- John L. Severance Fund
- Exhibitions
- Power and Possession: Chinese Calligraphy and Inscribed Objects – Chinese Gallery Rotation 240a, 241c, <em>Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 119)</em>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (March 16-July 13, 2004).
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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