Han Ximeng’s Song and Yuan Dynasty Monuments Collection – Horse Wash

[Han Ximeng Song and Yuan Dynasty Monuments – Horse Washing Map]

Han Ximeng Song and Yuan Dynasty Monuments – Horse Washing Map, Chongzhen, Ming Dynasty, 33.4 cm in length and 24.5 cm in width
The Painting of Horse Washing is embroidered on the white plain satin ground. The weeping willow sways on the picture. A groom is brushing a white black zebra under the tree. The white horse is excited and hissing in the water. This embroidery is completely imitated by the painting strokes and is embroidered with needles. The vigorous white horse is embroidered with the best “and needles” in Gu embroidery along the texture of its muscles, which is realistic. The spots on the white horse are embroidered completely according to the dotted painting method in the painting. Although the black embroidery thread has fallen off, its stitches are still indistinguishable. In addition, the embroidery is also rendered in many places. This “half painting and half embroidery”, mainly embroidery, supplemented by painting, is the most basic feature of Gu embroidery
This embroidered horse washing picture is lifelike, vivid and elegant in color, reflecting the characteristics of light color rendering of Gu embroidery. On the opposite page, Dong Qichang said, “A mirror covers the sky, and a hair dragon is a bath. The mirror covers the nine directions, and the wind is horizontal. It is unique, and can’t be controlled. Chasing the clouds, the sky is in the eye.”
This is one of the eight pieces in the Han Ximeng Song and Yuan Dynasty Monuments Collection, which is the representative work of Han Ximeng, an embroiderer of the Ming Dynasty. It was originally collected by Mr. Guan Boheng of Wuzhou, and was donated by his daughter Guan Ruiwu to the Palace Museum in December 1960.