Feng'e Shanfang

Wu Li, courtesy name Yuxian, art names Taoxi Jushi and Mojing Daoren, was a native of Changshu, Jiangsu province. He was a Catholic priest, and stayed in Macao for some time. He was proficient in composing poems and painting landscapes. Being one of the representatives of the Orthodox School of painting in the Qing dynasty, Wu studied painting with Wang Shimin (1592-1680) and Wang Jian (1598-1677). When speaking of the "Four Wangs Wu Yun" or “the Six Painting Masters in Early Qing”, people are referring to Wang Hui (1632-1717), Wang Yuanqi (1642-1715), Yun Shouping (1633-1690), Wu Li and his two teachers.

Wu made this painting for Hou Danian (ca. 1641-ca.1710) after 1677. In this painting, the artist depicts a villa, which was named after the owner of the premise, Hou Danian whose art name was Feng’e. Some houses can be seen standing amid tall trees and bamboo, against a mountainous background, while a man with a walking stick is crossing a bridge. This scenic picture full of lively detail was executed in moist ink. A dear friend of Hou, Wu had painted several paintings in the theme of the premise for Hou’s memory of and respect to his ancestors. Interestingly, the Feng’e premise was never built. It is said that after Hou asked Wu to paint a hanging scroll, he further requested this small painting and asked his friends for inscriptions, resulting in the present two-volume album, for which Wu affixed a self-inscription. The frontispiece was inscribed by Zhu Yizun (1629-1709) of the Qing dynasty. There are also poems and paintings by Lu Zun (active 17th century) and Mei Geng (active 17th century) alongside verse appended by 64 scholars, including Wu Li and Zhu Yizun. This painting undoubtedly exemplifies the friendship of Wu and Hou.