hanging scroll; calligraphy; painting BM-1963-0520-0.5

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1600-1641 (circa)
Materials:
Technique:painted, satin,
Subjects:calligraphy
Dimensions:Height: 188 centimetres (image) Height: 246 centimetres (scroll) Width: 53 centimetres (image)

Description:
Hanging scroll. Calligraphy in cursive script by Zhang Ruitu (c. 1600). The scroll shows a poem written in Zhang Ruitu’s characteristic style of widely separated columns of characters written using the side-tip of the brush. Ink on satin.
IMG


Comments:1. Farrer 1990, cat. 5: “Zhang Ruitu was a native of Jinjiang, Fujian province in southern China. He occupied various official posts. After 1629 he retired to his home to paint and write. He was considered one of the four great calligraphers of the Ming dynasty together with Dong Qichang (1555-1636) (cat. no. 15), Xing Tong (1551-1612), and Mi Wanzhong (active late 16th-early 17th century). This hanging scroll shows a poem which he wrote for a poet named Du mengri… The calligraphy is in widely separated columns of closely knit characters. This is Zhang’s typical style: it uses the side-tip of the brush, which is held obliquely. Rhythm is given by the groups of characters written in relatively unabbreviated form which alternate with those in the quicker more cursive hand in which the brush tip says on the satin making a line of connected characters.”2. Rawson 1992.Zhang Ruitu was considered one of the four great calligraphers of the Ming dynasty, along with Dong Qichang (1555-1636), Xing Tong (1551-1612) and Mi Wanzhong (fl. late 16th-early 17th century).