Cleveland Museum of Art

Landscape after Ni Zan

Wang Yuanqi

Date

1707

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper

Culture

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Wang Yuanqi, an official in Emperor Kangxi’s (reigned 1662–1722) court, grew up in an artistic family. Like other mainstream painters of the Orthodox School, he followed a canon of earlier styles and artists endorsed by Ming calligrapher Dong Qichang (1555–1636). Here, Wang drew inspiration from Ni Zan (1301–1374), a Yuan dynasty painter known for his simple compositions and spare use of ink. Master Ni seldom used color, but Wang added green and ochre washes to the trees, cottages, and hills in this landscape. Painting was a way for Wang to relieve the pressures of his official duties.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.