Page 18 - Sothebys Fine Chinese paintings Hong Kong

a short account of the view in small regular ancient temple is accessible by Stylistically, the painting as a whole is akin
script. At the very end of the scroll is the artist’s a piney trail. The tranquillity is to Wang Yuanqi. Although somewhat less
signature, reading “Painted and inscribed by emphasized by a stone bridge vigorous than the early Qing painter, it
your humble servant Qian Weicheng”, with over a murmuring brook. more than makes it up with refinement and
two artist seals. In addition to collector seals spontaneity. In short, this is a masterpiece
of Emperor Qianlong, there are two more 4. Cliff Folong for Sermons.
of Emperor Xuantong. Each of the sectional Two streams tumble below the from Qian’s best years and rivals those
paintings is inscribed with a poem and impressed precipices of Peak Jindi. While produced by his friend and mentor Dong
with varying numbers of artist seals by Emperor a monk engages in meditation Bangda.
Qianlong, whose signature at the very end reads in a cave, two people sit quietly
“Inscribed by the Emperor late in the third lunar outside Temple Gaoming. The
month of the jiawu year (1774)”. composition is rich but by no means cluttered, Ming traveller Xu Xiake, the bridge is now closed
making good use of the irregular mountain forms to the public.
The various views described in the sectional to suggest and augment depth and height. The
paintings are as follows in corresponding order: pattra-leaf scriptures mentioned in the painter’s 7. Qiongtai Terrace for a Healing Sip. Nestling
inscription is now in the collection of the Guoqing in the mountains and with a sweet spring close
1. River Qingxi in Mists. With the city wall on Temple. by, the terrace juts out from a steep cliff face
one side, the wild geese in flight, the punting to overlook a deep pond. On the terrace sits a
fishermen and the spanning bridges combine to 5. Peak Huading above Clouds. This is a view of recluse gently caressed by the piney breeze.
make up a refreshing and unobstructed view of the summit Huading from Peak Yindi, which rises
waters converging at the foot of Mount Zhining to high above other peaks around it. The mountain 8. Taoyuan Col in Springtime. The col, the
the west of the county capital city of Tiantai. is streaked by winding trails and dotted with Jinqiao Pool and their environs are depicted in
towers and pavilions. With the peak in plain sight, a picturesque setting of lush mountains and
2. Mount Chicheng in Red. As a main peak of an ancient pagoda can be seen standing just blazing peach groves.
Mount Tiantai, Chicheng dwarfs the others in the below the top. Instead of the crowds-drawing
area and stands out for its red colour. The natural spectacle of homing clouds, the painter has 9. Two Caves and a Buddhist House. The
Danxia landform has produced a handful of caves preferred this cloudless scene for portraying Hanyan Cave, Mingyan Cave, Hezhang Cave and
where Buddhist masters took up residence for the magnificent mountain complete with all its their environs strike with the staggered peaks
cultivation and meditation. Down in the valley, historic sites. shrouded in mists. A rock chamber is faintly
sparse trees can be seen half-hidden in mists. visible through the leafy trees.
6. Waterfall at Shiliang. Celebrated as a major
3. Quoqing Temple amidst Pines. Ranking among attraction of Mount Tiantai, this natural granite 10. Wannian Temple and Blissful Water. The
the Ten Temples of Jiangnan as early as the bridge is about seven metres long and less than a tranquillity of the Tang temple located at the foot
Southern Song dynasty, the temple was where foot wide. It spans two precipices like an arched of Mount Bafeng is amplified by the towering
Master Zhizhe (538-597) founded the Tiantai dragon with a fall plummeting right below it from pines and cedars, the tumbling stream and the
Sect, the first ever Buddhist denomination. a height of 40 metres in a thunderous splash. forgotten valley.
Sheltered by the lofty Jindi Peak, the deserted Although it was once gingerly crossed by the

16 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比