The Garden for Solitary Enjoyment

1515–52

Qiu Ying

Qiu Ying (Chinese, 1494–1552)

Chinese Art

The Garden for Solitary Enjoyment, 1515–52. Qiu Ying (Chinese, 1494–1552). Handscroll; ink and slight color on silk; painting: 28 x 518.5 cm (11 x 204 1/8 in.); overall: 32 x 1290.2 cm (12 5/8 x 507 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1978.67

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Qiu Ying
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: Handscroll; ink and slight color on silk
Medium: handscroll, ink, slight, color, silk
Dimensions: Painting: 28 x 518.5 cm (11 x 204 1/8 in.); Overall: 32 x 1290.2 cm (12 5/8 x 507 15/16 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: Accompanying text of an essay together with seven poems of Ssu-ma Kuang and one poem of Su Shih written by Wen Zhengming in 1558. 2 colophons and 82 seals: 4 seals of Wen Zhengming 文徵明 (1470–1559); 59 seals of Xiang Yuanbian 項元汴 (1525–1590); 1 colophon, dated 1644, and 7 seals of Xiang Yukui 項禹揆 (c. late 1500s–1659); 1 colophon, dated 1880, and 2 seals of Weng Tonghe 翁同龢 (1830–1904); 2 seals of Ch'eng Chen-i (19th c.); 1 seal of Han Ch'ung (19th c.); 4 seals of Wan-go H. C. Weng 翁萬戈 (1918–2020); 3 seals unidentified. Inscription: Colophon by Xiang Yukui 項禹揆 (c. late 1500s–1659): The painting of The Garden for Self-enjoyment on the right by Shih-chou, Mr. Qiu [Qiu Ying] is in the style of Li Lung-mien. Its mood is peaceful, as if meeting the ancient gentlemen face to face among the brushes and silk; it lifts one above the sordid bustle of life. Formerly, my late father handed me this scroll which had only the painting without the written essay. I considered asking a good calligrapher to write the essay to add to it but was afraid that the quality of the writing would not match the painting. Several years later, I saw at a friend's house this essay and poems (of Ssu-ma Kuang] written by Hengshan [Wen Zhengming], once owned by my grandfather; so I spared no expense to obtain it. I rejoiced at this and said: "The divine swords are finally united. How things are pre-destined!" Now my friend Chang Kung-chao's technique for mounting [painting and calligraphy] is excellent. Therefore by daring to take them out and join them together, I can preserve this beautiful story of singular reunion. Xiang Yukui recorded at Hai-yeh-t'ang [hall] two days before New Year's Eve in the jiasheng year of the Chongzhen era [1644]. trans. LYSL/HK/WKH
Departments: Chinese Art
Accession Number: 1978.67
Credit Line: John L. Severance Fund
Exhibitions: Year in Review: 1978, Visions of Landscape: East and West, Wu School Painting Series: The Art of Qiu Ying, Where the Truth Lies: The Art of Qiu Ying, Gardens in Chinese Art from Private and Museum Collections. China House Gallery, New York, NY (March 21-May 26, 1968), Eight Dynasties of Chinese Painting. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (February 11-March 29, 1981), Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 122). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (March 27-June 25, 2001).
Rights Statement: CC0