Crane and Pine

Maker(s)
Artist: Formerly attributed to Zhao Yong 袙雍 (1291-1361)
Historical period(s)
Ming dynasty, ca. 1500
School
Zhe School
Medium
Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 153.5 x 94.2 cm (60 7/16 x 37 1/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1911.273
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll (mounted on panel)

Keywords
bamboo, China, crane, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), pine tree, plum blossom
Provenance

To 1911
Yung Go, China, to 1911 [1]

From 1911 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yung Go in 1911 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 837, 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.

Previous Owner(s)

Yung Go (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Label

Manchurian cranes, with their elegant and dignified carriage, were treasured and raised as pets in China and often associated with mythical beings; eventually they became known as "immortal birds." Images of cranes and pines are immediately recognizable symbols of longevity, and, when presented together, convey wishes for a happy marriage.  As a group, the pine, plum blossoms, and bamboo form the "Three Friends of Winter," a collective symbol of the lofty scholar's moral character. This finely detailed ornamental painting typifies the professional Ming paintings that decorated reception halls in the houses of the elite.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort, Jan Stuart, Laurence Chi-Sing Tam. Joined Colors: Decoration and Meaning in Chinese Porcelain : Ceramics from Collectors in the Min Chiu Society, Hong Kong. Exh. cat. Washington and Hong Kong, 1993. p. 52, fig. 6.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. 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 Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use