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The present screen is related to a Kangxi period, twelve-panel screen in with foating wine cups. Each was given one initial character and was
the Philadelphia Museum of Art, illustrated by W. de Kesel and G. Dhont in tasked to compose poems. Those who produced two poems had to drink
Coromandel Lacquer Screens, Gent, 2002, p. 62, which features a pair of one cup of wine, while those who only composed one poem drank two
deer seated beneath a large fowering tree and exotic birds on the banks cups, and those who failed to compose any poetry at all, paid a forfeit of
of a lotus pond. The outer borders are similarly decorated with the ‘One consuming three cups.
Hundred Antiques’. The ‘One Hundred Antiques’ interspersed with foral
arrangements is the most common decorative motif found on lacquer Above the Orchid Pavilion Gathering fan-leaf is a calligraphy album by the
screens of this type. prominent Ming scholar-oficial Wang Shouren (1472-1529). Wang Shouren,
who was a native of Yuyao, Zhejiang province, was a successful statesman,
The reverse of this twelve-panel screen is decorated with paintings and philosopher and calligrapher. After passing the jinshi examination in 1499,
calligraphy in fan-leaf and album-leaf formats. This theme is rarely seen on he intermittently led military campaigns against rebels and criminals in the
carved lacquer screens which are more often decorated only with highly south, served as provincial governor and wrote and lectured. His primary
sumptuous and auspicious motifs. In this regard, the present screen not only philosophic principles focused on the importance and development of the
conveys auspicious meanings as seen on the front but also demonstrate the individual intuitive mind. His suggestion that knowledge and action are
owner’s fne scholarly taste. inextricably linked was very infuential in Ming, Qing and 20th century
Chinese thought.
Among the various paintings and calligraphies represented on this screen,
the most notable ones include a running script calligraphy by Tang Yin (1470- Another prominent scholar-oficial represented on this screen is Wang
1524), a fan-leaf painting of lotus by Shen Zhou (1427-1509) and a fan-leaf Shizhen (1526-1590). Wang Shizhen (1526-1590), who is also known by his
painting of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering by Wen Zhengming (1470-1559). hall name bianzhou shanren, was a successful statesman, scholar and art
Three of the Four Masters of the Ming dynasty, Shen Zhou, Wen Zhengming connoisseur during the Jiajing (1522-1566) and Wanli (1573-1620) periods.
and Tang Yin, like the remaining master Qiu Ying (1494-1552), were all Other notable artists and scholars presented on this screen include two
natives of Suzhou. Suzhou was known as Wu in ancient times, and they are other Wu school painters, Xie Shichen (b. 1488) and Lu Zhi (1496-1576);
therefore also regarded as the Four Masters of the Wu School. the most prominent fower and bird painter in the Ming dynasty, Xu Wei
(1521-1593); two Fujian artists, Huang Daozhou (1585-1646), and Wu Bin
In the late Ming period, as the literati taste and ideas began to dominate (1573-1620); one Songjiang school artist, Chen Jiru (1558-1639); and Ni
artistic practices, the Wu School started fourishing and became the Yuanlu (1593-1644).
mainstream for Chinese paintings. It is interesting to note that the
composition of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering on the present screen is very It is interesting to note that Huang Daozhou, Ni Yuanlu, and another
similar to Wen Zhengming’s hand scroll painting of the Orchid Pavilion oficial-scholar presented here, Wang Siren (1575-1646), are three famous
Gathering in the Palace Museum, illustrated in Ming sijia huaji (The Paintings Ming loyalists. Ni Yuanlu committed suicide after Li Zicheng’s (1606-1645)
of the Four Masters of the Ming Dynasty), Tianjin, 1993, no. 118. It is possible peasant rebels captured Beijing. Wang Siren served in the Southern Ming
that the patron of this screen was in the cultural elites’ circle and had the court after the collapse of the Ming in 1644, and fasted to death after he
opportunity to see Wen Zhengming’s original painting. was captured by the Qing army. Huang Daozhou also died in resistance
against the Qing. Promoting these Ming loyalists was sensitive and to some
The long tradition of the literati gathering started in the Lanting (Orchid extent dangerous in the Qing dynasty, particularly during the intensive
Pavilion) with the meeting that took place in the ninth year of the Yonghe literary inquisition of the early 18th century. The representation of works
reign (AD 353) of the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 317-420). Forty-two scholars by three prominent Ming loyalists on this screen may suggest the owner’s
were invited to the Orchid Pavilion near Shanyin, Zhejiang province, for the political orientation and a relatively early date for the work.
Spring Purifcation Festival. The participants were seated beside a stream
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