Details
WEN ZHENGMING (1573-1636)
Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers
Album of sixteen leaves (eight paintings opposite eight leaves of calligraphy), ink and color on paper, each leaf measures approximately 7 7/8 x 8¼in. (20 x 20.9cm .)
a. Autumn Evening over Lake Dongting Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan
Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
b. Returning from Sailing to a Distant Shore
Three seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and one on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin
Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
c. Evening Bells in a Mist-shrouded Temple Three seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and one on the calligraphy: Heng Shan
Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
d. Mountain Market, Clear with Rising Mist
Unsigned
e. Night Rain on Xiao and Xiang Rivers Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
f) Wild Geese Descending to a Sandbar Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
g) Fishing Village in Evening Glow Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming; and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
h) River and Sky in Evening Snow Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan
Frontispiece by Wang Guxiang (1501-1568) with title: "Waters and Clouds of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers" (Xiao Xiang Yun Shui), signed: Guxiang with two seals: Wang Shi Gu Xiang, Lu Zhi
One colophon by Wang Guxiang reads: "Whenever I saw the paintings by Master Hengshan (Wen Zhengming), I alway applauded with my admirations. On a day during my cruise to Mount Wu (presentday Hangzhou, Zhejiang province), I met Monk Liaochan (Liaochan Shangren). He brought this album of "Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers" and kindly showed it to me, saying that it was one of the masterpieces by Hengshan. After studying and enjoying it for a long time, I found it still attractively fresh to me. It is known that the great masters of the Tang and Song dynasties are all noted for their own individual styles. This album, (having displayed its own style) therefore, not only must be celebrated as the best work of the present time, but also can well be compared with the Song and Yuan masterworks. Guxiang (8)
Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers
Album of sixteen leaves (eight paintings opposite eight leaves of calligraphy), ink and color on paper, each leaf measures approximately 7 7/8 x 8¼in. (20 x 20.9cm .)
a. Autumn Evening over Lake Dongting Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan
Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
b. Returning from Sailing to a Distant Shore
Three seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and one on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin
Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
c. Evening Bells in a Mist-shrouded Temple Three seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and one on the calligraphy: Heng Shan
Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
d. Mountain Market, Clear with Rising Mist
Unsigned
e. Night Rain on Xiao and Xiang Rivers Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
f) Wild Geese Descending to a Sandbar Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
g) Fishing Village in Evening Glow Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming; and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan Calligraphy signed: Zhengming
h) River and Sky in Evening Snow Four seals of the artist: two on the painting: Zheng, Ming and two on the calligraphy: Wen Zheng Ming Yin; Heng Shan
Frontispiece by Wang Guxiang (1501-1568) with title: "Waters and Clouds of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers" (Xiao Xiang Yun Shui), signed: Guxiang with two seals: Wang Shi Gu Xiang, Lu Zhi
One colophon by Wang Guxiang reads: "Whenever I saw the paintings by Master Hengshan (Wen Zhengming), I alway applauded with my admirations. On a day during my cruise to Mount Wu (presentday Hangzhou, Zhejiang province), I met Monk Liaochan (Liaochan Shangren). He brought this album of "Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers" and kindly showed it to me, saying that it was one of the masterpieces by Hengshan. After studying and enjoying it for a long time, I found it still attractively fresh to me. It is known that the great masters of the Tang and Song dynasties are all noted for their own individual styles. This album, (having displayed its own style) therefore, not only must be celebrated as the best work of the present time, but also can well be compared with the Song and Yuan masterworks. Guxiang (8)