handscroll; painting BM-1998-1112-0.1.CH

Period:Yuan dynasty Production date:1321 (Dated)
Materials:silk
Technique:painted
Subjects:bird and flower insect plant calligraphy
Dimensions:Height: 27.70 centimetres (calligraphic frontispiece) Height: 27.60 centimetres (colophon 1) Height: 27.60 centimetres (colophon 2) Height: 27.10 centimetres (colophon 5) Height: 27.60 centimetres (colophons 3 & 4) Height: 28.50 centimetres (original cover silk) Height: 27.80 centimetres (painting) Length: 94.20 centimetres (calligraphic frontispiece) Length: 35.40 centimetres (colophon 1) Length: 35.20 centimetres (colophon 2) Length: 35.70 centimetres (colophon 5) Length: 40.90 centimetres (colophons 3 & 4) Length: 352.90 centimetres (painting) Width: 18.50 centimetres (original cover silk)

Description:
Handscroll. Painting in ink and colours on silk depicting insects and plants. Calligraphic frontispiece in seal-script and five colophons following the painting. Original silk cover with inscription of first British owner and extract from nineteenth century British sales catalogue. Inscription and seals.
IMG


Comments:Michaelson & Portal 2006:This handscroll is a rare example of a signed and dated painting from the Yuan dynasty. Such paintings belong to a category known as ‘plants and insects’ which dates back as far as 1120 during the Northern Song dynasty. The colophon tell us of the deeper significance of the subject matter: the beauty and brightness of the natural world mask the confusion and disorder caused by the fight for survival. It reflects the dilemma faced by many Chinese of the period: whether to work for the new Mongol dynasty and survive, or remain loyal to the fallen Song imperial dynasty and starve. During the Yuan period concealed meanings were often found in artistic works for, under Mongol domination, the literati could only express their frustrations in subtle ways. The Mongols abolished the state examination system by which Chinese scholars had traditionally been recruited for government service. In any case, many refused to serve the Mongols, even when the exams were restored, and chose instead to live in seclusion, turning their talents to painting or writing.