Page 55 - Elegantly Made, Art For The Literati, 2020, J.J. Lally, New York
P. 55
17. A PAIR OF FR AMED DALI MARBLE ‘S T ONE PAINTIN GS’
By Ruan Yuan (1764-1849)
the two panels, one horizontal and one vertical, with natural markings in the stone evoking scenes
of mountain peaks in rising mist and clouds, mounted for hanging in matching antique wood
frames.
The horizontal panel inscribed in running script:
石中有畫畫中詩 A picture in the stone and a poem in the picture,
金粉丹青屬阿誰 But who could paint with such gold pigment, reds and greens!
覓得唐人好詩意 I found in it an excellent line by a Tang poet,
宛然花烏夕陽遲 How vivid, “on a floral isle evening sunlight lingers.”
Signed Boyuan, a zi of Ruan Yuan: 伯元題於琅環
仙館 (Boyuan composed at the Langhuan Hall
of Immortals), followed by one seal of the artist:
阮氏石 (Stone of Mr. Ruan), with a second seal
in the lower left corner: 琅環僊館 (Jade Garland
Immortals Hall), Ruan Yuan’s studio name.
Ruan Yuan, Shi hua ji: 5 juan, Guangdong, Xue hai tang, 3rd
year of Guangxu (1877); juan 4, p. 12b, Harvard Yenching
Library
阮元 石畫記五卷，廣東學海堂，光緒三年；第四卷，
頁十二 哈佛燕京圖書館
