Loading

Eagle on a Tree Trunk

Huang Shen1755

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

Huang Shen’s swift painting style is paralleled in his calligraphy. The vertical line in running script echoes the fluid form of the eagle on a tree trunk covered with a twisted vine. A native of Fujian province, Huang came to Yangzhou in 1724 to make his living as a painter. He needed years to develop a style that met the taste of his clients. He eventually became known as a figure painter and as one of the Eccentrics from Yangzhou, a group of local artists known for their unorthodox painting style.

Show lessRead more
Download this artwork (provided by The Cleveland Museum of Art).
Learn more about this artwork.
  • Title: Eagle on a Tree Trunk
  • Creator: Huang Shen (Chinese, 1687–after 1768)
  • Date Created: 1755
  • Physical Dimensions: Image: 124 x 45 cm (48 13/16 x 17 11/16 in.); Overall: 213.2 x 61.2 cm (83 15/16 x 24 1/8 in.)
  • Provenance: Pu Ru 溥儒 [1895–1963], Richard Nathanson [20th century], London, England, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1977.31
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
  • Inscriptions: 乾隆乙亥年燈節前二日癭瓢子慎写。 [印]黃慎; 恭壽。
  • Fun Fact: With its wings partially lifted and sharp beak open in expectation, the eagle seems intent on some unseen prey below.
  • Department: Chinese Art
  • Culture: China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
  • Credit Line: Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund
  • Collection: ASIAN - Hanging scroll
  • Accession Number: 1977.31
The Cleveland Museum of Art

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Interested in Visual arts?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites