Peonies

Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
-
Period
17th-18th century -
Geography
China -
Material
Ink and color on silk -
Dimension
H x W (image): 160.4 x 76.3 cm (63 1/8 x 30 1/16 in) -
Accession Number
F1901.172 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F1901.172
Object Details
-
Artist
Follower of Yun Shouping (1633-1690) -
Description
Hanging scroll depicting a group of flowering plants, with seven peony blossoms (one red, three pink, two white and one purple) and irises among ornamental garden rocks. Four seals, two inscriptions, no labels. -
Signatures
Signed: "Kiang-sang-wai-shih. Tan Chung-kuan." -
Marks
First seal below signture reads: "Shou-p'ing." Second seal below signature reads: "Cheng-su." (Note: The full name of the painter is Yun Shou-p'ing and Cheng-su is his second name. He was a famous painter of the Manchu dynasty.)First seal below Tan Ch'ung-kuang's manuscript reads: "Kiang-sang-wai-shih." Second seal or lower seal reads: "Tan Chai-hsing."First seal below Tan Ch'ung-kuang's manuscript reads: "Kiang-sang-wai-shih." Second seal or lower seal reads: "Tan Chai-hsing." -
Inscriptions
The manuscript in upper right corner reads (a poem): "The color is splendid; the fragrance is best. The cloud protects the flowers. It is of the same quality as the Fu-yung flowers of Mr. Ssu (of Chin Dynasty). It is fit to be set in a precious vase.""Sung (dynasty) Hsu Chung-shih painted a picture of Mou-tan (flower), and the picture has been the best of flower paintings. I now copy Hsu's idea and paint this in O-hsiang Hall." Signed: "Nan-tian-ko Shou-p'ing." -
Label
Legend has it that one winter day Empress Wu (reigned 684-705) commanded the flowers in her royal garden to bloom and all obeyed-except the peony. Angered, she banished the flower from Changan, the capital, to Luoyang, which is now known as the "City of Peonies." This tale of stubbornness and degradation notwithstanding, the tree peony was a favorite of the Tang dynasty court, prized for its exquisitely shaped petals and stunning colors. Peonies continue to be honored as a symbol of status and power, inspiring such sobriquets as the "king of flowers" (huawang), "beauty of nations and scent of heaven" (guoshe tianxiang), and "flower of wealth and rank" (fuguihua). -
Provenance
To 1901Yamanaka & Company, to 1901 [1]From 1901 to 1919Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1901 [2]From 1920Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]Notes:[1] Original folder sheet note. Also see Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 264, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. The majority of Charles Lang Freer’s purchases from Yamanaka & Company were made at its New York branch. Yamanaka & Company maintained branch offices, at various times, in Boston, Chicago, London, Peking, Shanghai, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. During the summer, the company also maintained seasonal locations in Newport, Bar Harbor, and Atlantic City. 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)Seasons: Chinese Flowers (July 2, 2011 to January 8, 2012)Beyond Brushwork: Symbolism in Chinese Painting (April 29 to November 26, 2006) -
Previous custodian or owner
Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919) -
Origin
China -
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer -
Type
Painting -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.
Keep Exploring
-
Related Resources
-
Date
-
Name
-
Place
-
Topic
-
Culture
-
Object Type