handscroll; painting BM-1963-1214-0.3

Period:Yuan dynasty Production date:late 15th century-early 16th century (Style suggests mid to late Ming, also Xiang Yuanbian collector’s seals; previously thought to be Yuan or Ming)
Materials:paper
Technique:painted
Subjects:paradise
Dimensions:Height: 34.60 centimetres (image) Height: 35.50 centimetres (scroll) Length: 1244 centimetres (image) Length: 1647.60 centimetres (scroll)

Description:
Handscroll. Buddhist and Daoist figures, dragons and other animals, with Buddha in centre. Each identified by inscription. Painted in ink and colours on paper. More than 100 seals.
IMG


Comments:This painting is a copy in the style of Li Gonglin, who painted in the Northern Song Dynasty in the 11th century AD. It was common practice in China to copy the paintings of famous masters. The combination of Buddhist and Daoist figures in this painting illustrates the way that both religions were often employed at the same time, without any sense of this being confusing or inappropriate.