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Landscape with Birds, Berries, Roses and Rabbits

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At A Glance

Period

late 17th-18th century
Geography

China
Material

Ink and color on silk
Dimension

H x W (image): 41.8 x 288 cm (16 7/16 x 113 3/8 in)
Accession Number

F1909.201
EDAN ID

edanmdm:fsg_F1909.201

Object Details

Artist

Traditionally attributed to Yi Yuanji (active mid- to late 11th century)
Label

Along a small mountain stream, a bird perches on a thorn branch with red leaves. A tree sparrow flies towards a pair that are fighting in mid-air, two babblers pause on a tree branch that hangs over the stream and a pair of spotted-neck doves perch together on another tree. A vine with red berries decorates the trees.

This early Ch'ing painting bears a false signature of the Northern Sung painter, I Yuan-chi, at the end of the scroll.
Provenance

To 1909

Loon Gu Sai, Beijing, to 1909 [1]

From 1909 to 1919

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Loon Gu Sai, Beijing, in 1909 [2]

From 1920

Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 659, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. According to Ingrid Larsen, "'Don’t Send Ming or Later Pictures': Charles Lang Freer and the First Major Collection of Chinese Painting in an American Museum," Ars Orientalis vol. 40 (2011), Loon Gu Sai was possibly Lunguzhai, a store in the antiques district of Liulichang.

This object exhibits seals, colophons, or inscriptions that could provide additional information regarding the object’s history; see Curatorial Remarks in the object record for further details.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection

Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History

Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

Winged Spirits: Birds in Chinese Painting (February 11 to August 5, 2012)

Chinese Bird and Flower Painting (December 17, 1993 to May 31, 1994)

Masterpieces of Chinese Painting (II) (May 9, 1993 to May 31, 1994)

Chinese Bird and Flower Painting (January 27, 1986 to June 30, 1986)
Previous custodian or owner

Loon Gu Sai (C.L. Freer source)

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Origin

China
Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Type

Painting
Restrictions and Rights

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