Whiling Away the Summer in the Shade of Pines 《松陰消夏圖》

Object Details

• Artist

  Zhe School 浙派

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

• Description

  This large hanging scroll features a tall peak in the upper right corner towering over a rocky ridge with pines and pavillions below. An official (based upon clothing and headgear) stands on a terrace gazing at the view. The significant landscape elements are weighted diagonally in the lower right corner of the composition. The depiction of an official in a summer retreat surrounded by the beauty of nature and grand architecture is an idealized vision that would appeal to Ming academy painters.

  Anonymous, possible Zhe School, Ming Dynasty, "Spending the Summer amid Pines", circa 15th century. Ink and light color on silk, attributed to Ma yuan of the Song Dynasty, mounted on panel and framed, (possibly cut down, minor stains.)

• Inscriptions

  1. (Joseph Chang, 19 September 2002) Label mounted next to the painting: Song Ma Yuan Songyin xiaoxia tu zhenji (Spending the Summer Amid Pines, an authentic work by Ma Yuan of the Song.) The label is of 19th or 20th century origin and can almost be disregarded.

• Provenance

  To 1970

  Eugene (1875-1959) and Agnes E. (1887-1970) Meyer, New York, Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY

  From 1970 to 2001

  Katharine Graham (1917-2001), Washington, DC, by descent from her mother, Agnes E. Meyer

  From 2002

  Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Katharine Graham in 2002 [1]

  Notes:

  [1] See Katharine Graham’s Last Will and Testament, dated January 12, 2000, copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Seasons: Chinese Landscapes (December 18, 2010 to June 12, 2011)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer ((1875-1959) and (1887-1970))

  Katharine Meyer Graham (1917-2001)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Bequest of Mrs. Katharine Graham

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s

• Name

  Graham, Katharine Meyer, Meyer, Eugene and Agnes E.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Pine tree, Mountains, Landscapes, Art, Temple, Chinese Art, Summer, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings