Old Trees by a Cool Spring

1326

Li Shixing

Li Shixing (Chinese, 1283–1328)

Chinese Art

Old Trees by a Cool Spring, 1326. Li Shixing (Chinese, 1283–1328). Hanging scroll, ink on silk; image: 165.7 x 108.6 cm (65 1/4 x 42 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1970.41

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Li Shixing
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: hanging scroll, ink on silk
Medium: hanging, scroll, ink, silk
Dimensions: Image: 165.7 x 108.6 cm (65 1/4 x 42 3/4 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: 泰定丙寅年冬十二月薊丘李士行遵道作。[印] 李士行印; 李氏遵道; 遊戲翰墨. Translation: Artist's inscription, signature, and 3 seals: In the twelfth month of winter, in the bingyin year of the Taiding era [1326], Li Shixing, Zundao, of Jiqiu did this. [seals] Li Shixing yin; Li shi Zundao; You xi han mo. Inscription: 薊丘李侯能畫松，蟠根錯節騰蛟龍。枯梢削鐵歲月古，細葉當風紫翠重。昔人曾入子固夢，此株豈為秦官封。畢宏韋偃偕已矣，請公放筆吾將從。華溪九十翁沈夢麟書蘊中上人題 Translation: 1 inscription and 1 seal of Shen Menglin 沈夢麟 (1207–1399): Marquis Li of Jiqiu can paint pines. From gnarled roots and tangled branches a dragon may soar. Those dead twigs are as sharp as irons as in time past. Against the wind, the slender leaves pile up in purple and greens. One in the past has dreamt a Zigu’s dream. This tree exists even without Qin’s conferment of official titles. Bi Hong and Wei Yan have all vanished. Do unleash your brush and I’ll follow in your footsteps. "The Old Man of Flower Stream” Sheng Menglin at ninety years of age [1396]. Wrote it on behalf of Yun zhong Shang ren (active second half of 14th century). Inscription: [印] 明善堂所見書畫印記; [印] 怡親王寶 Translation: 2 seals of Prince Yi 怡親王 (Aisin-Gioro Yinxiang 愛新覺羅胤祥; 1686–1730): Ming shan tang xuo jian shu hua yin ji; Yi qing wang bao
Departments: Chinese Art
Accession Number: 1970.41
Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Exhibitions: Year in Review: 1970, The Colors of Ink, Eight Dynasties of Chinese Painting, Visions of Landscape: East and West, <em>Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 119)</em>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (March 16-July 13, 2004).
Rights Statement: CC0