Picnic on the Riverbank

Object Details

• Artist

  Probably by Yuan Jiang (ca. 1694-1743)

  Formerly attributed to Ma Yuan 馬遠 (active late 12th-early 13th century)

• Label

  The spurious signature in the lower left corner attributes this painting to the Southern Song master Ma Yuan (late twelfth-early thirteenth century). In fact, on the basis of its composition and landscape details, this painting should be attributed to Yuan Jiang of the eighteenth century. Yuan, a court painter, is known for integrating finely detailed renderings of architecture and figures with monumental landscapes. In this painting, a group of scholar-officials and their servants picnic in a dramatic, atmospheric riverside setting. Their fancifully structured boat waits to ferry them back.

• Provenance

  To 1917

  John Fenning, New York, to 1917 [1]

  From 1917 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from John Fenning in 1917 [2]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 1189, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [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

  Boating on a River (February 12 to August 14, 2005)

  On the River (April 01, 1995 to January 23, 1996)

  Yuan Chiang School, Chinese Paintings (April 12, 1963 to October 15, 1963)

• Previous custodian or owner

  John Fenning (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1790s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Fenning, John

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Pine tree, Rites and ceremonies, Charles Lang Freer collection, Landscapes, Boats and boating, Art, Temple, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Food habits, Pagoda

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings