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Album of Miscellaneous Subjects
Fan Qiearly 1650s
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Half of this album depicts landscapes; the other half depicts insects, birds, and natural subjects. Emanating peace and tranquility, Fan Qi’s landscapes reveal a quiescent vision and luminescence that lends an otherworldliness to his images. His insects and birds show his attention to minutiae and technical facility in the control of the brush.
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Details
- Title: Album of Miscellaneous Subjects
- Creator: Fan Qi (Chinese, 1616-aft 1694)
- Date Created: early 1650s
- Physical Dimensions: Image: 12.6 x 17.3 cm (4 15/16 x 6 13/16 in.); Overall: 21 x 22 cm (8 1/4 x 8 11/16 in.)
- Provenance: Tomioka Tessai 富岡鐵齋 [1836–1924], (Robert G. Sawers [b. c. 1934], London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Painting
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1975.22
- Medium: album of ten leaves; ink and light color on silk
- Original Title: 山水花鳥圖冊
- Inscriptions: Artist's signature on the tenth painting: Zhongling Fan Qi 鐘陵樊圻 ["Fan Qi of Zhongling" (Zhongling is another name for Nanjing.)] Artist's ten seals, one on each painting: Fan Qi 樊圻., 10 poems, 1 colophon, and 29 additional seals: 1 poem and 3 seals of Wang Wu 王武 (1632–1690); 2 poems and 6 seals of Han Tan 韓菼 (1637–1704); 2 poems and 6 seals of Xu Fang 徐枋 (1622–1694); 4 poems and 10 seals of Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705); 1 poem and 3 seals of Li Bing 李炳 (17th century); 1 colophon and 1 seal of Tomioka Tessai 富岡鐵齋 (1836-1924)., Leaf 1. Poem by Wang Wu 王武 (1632–1690) A narrow path coiling, winds across rock foundations;/ Old vines and ancient trees meet the sunset's slanting rays./ Unaware that my small boat has gone so far,/ By the time it reverses its oars, the green mountains will be half-covered with clouds., Leaf 2. Poem by Han Tan 韓菼 (1637–1704) A thousand feet of red cliffs look like a sculptured flower of Fu-yung;/ In one glance, the long bridge joins adjacent ridges./ Furthermore a wine shop stands in a bamboo grove;/ The fellow who bought some good wine is drunk on the eastern shore of the stream., Leaf 3. Poem by Xu Fang 徐枋 (1622–1694) Green are the reeds, the sun not yet set;/ Tree foliage and mountain colors divide the lake in two halves./ A solitary recluse sits upon a flat bluff,/ Occasionally observing white clouds rising from the mountain tops., Leaf 4. Poem by Xu Fang 徐枋 (1622–1694) By chance, I start my journey from the watershed to remote regions,/ Suddenly I sight the silhouette of mountains - myriad expanses of green./ What is this "Come-flying" Peak which now does not recede,/ Its rocky walls, linked to heaven, are drenched by a waterfall., Leaf 5. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) That stone path surrounded by streams - for whom was it created?/ Leaning on my staff, I walk and hum, arriving alone./ As soon as I ascend to gaze at these mountains, my happiness increases,/ Every morning the moistening dew makes slippery the green moss., Leaf 6. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) The bright moon emerges through the willow,/ The fragrance of flowers is already difficult to retain./ Listening above these tall branches,/ I sense that faraway in my native place autumn has arrived./ Obstructed, all the diminished waters flow,/ Abruptly the sound of a lute wafts to and fro./ A strong wind, unabated, blows among, the willow branches., Leaf 7. Poem by Han Tan 韓菼 (1637–1704) Thoughts of autumn in the nuptial chamber with the new chill arising,/ The white frost all pervasive with a bright moon shining./ Outside the window, a crisp wind conveys the sound of crickets./ Within this quiet dream, I seem to sense the fragrance of orchids., Leaf 8. Poem by Li Bing 李炳 (17th century) Maple leaves drift in the wind, the autumn gusts bracing,/ Hibiscus flowers steeped with water, the evening breeze light./ The moonlight's slanting beams shine upon dreaming lovers./ No wonder that pair of fowl should dream of the absent partners., Leaf 9. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) Ancient trees share the slanting rays of the setting sun/ Chilly ravens hover round their branches/ The leader of the flock thinks this is a good place to rest,/ Evening being the time for returning./ This flock is the so-called a filial crow,/ Who, in disgorging their food [to feed their young], have compassionate hearts,/ Were the people in the world all like this,/ Fine talent would be everywhere., Leaf 10. Poem by Zhou Yi 周儀 (mid 17th century–about 1705) Green bamboo stand alone with a snowy covering,/ In the deep recesses of a secluded valley, the evening breeze is light./ White egrets are lean as shadows with the cold ripples frozen,/ They enter the gorge not just to admire the fish.
- Department: Chinese Art
- Culture: China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
- Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
- Collection: ASIAN - Album leaf
- Accession Number: 1975.22
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