Reminiscences of Nanjing: Autumn Meditation

Object Details

• Artist

  Shitao (1642-1707)

• Label

  The son of a prince in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Shitao was an infant when his parents were murdered at the fall of the dynasty. His identity concealed, he was raised in a Buddhist monastery and became a reclusive monk. In the 1680s he lived in Nanjing, serving as monk-in-charge of a Buddhist temple. Ultimately, his success as a painter widened his social circle, which helped sustain him psychologically. Shitao's painting is noted for its innovative simplicity and bold vigor. This image belongs to Reminiscences of Nanjing, the album that he painted in the last year of his life. Unlike many acclaimed Chinese artists of his generation, Shitao avoided conscious imitation of earlier masters' styles. While many of his paintings are relatively unorthodox (see the other leaf from this album), Autumn Meditation is fairly traditional. In his old age, Shitao came full circle artistically and was comfortable working in both extraordinary and more customary manners. His brushwork, however, was consistently imbued with exceptional strength and vitality, which is evident here in the solid, three-dimensional form of the little skiff that Shitao painted with a single stroke.

• Provenance

  To?

  Zhang Daqian (1899-1983). [1]

  To 1987

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York. [2]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See object record.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Pavilions and Immortal Mountains: Chinese Decorative Art and Paintings (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)

  In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)

  Rarities of Chinese Painting in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections (December 8, 1973 to June 29, 1986)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Zhang Daqian 張大千 (China, 1899-1983)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Nanjing, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Zhang, Daqian

• Place

  China, Nanjing

• Topic

  Boats and boating, Art, Autumn, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Rivers

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings