Joys of Fishing among Streams and Mountains

Maker(s)
Artist: Formerly attributed to Li Tang 李唐 (ca. 1050s-after 1130) School of Yuan Jiang (ca. 1694-1743)
Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, mid 18th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 61.5 x 75.4 cm (24 3/16 x 29 11/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Ruth Meyer Epstein
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1992.44
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
China, fishing, mountain, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), WWII-era provenance
Provenance

To 1970
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), New York, Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY [1]

From 1970 to 1992
Ruth Meyer Epstein (1921-2007), Scarsdale, NY, by descent from her mother, Agnes E. Meyer

From 1992
Freer Gallery of Art, given by Ruth Meyer Epstein in 1992 [2]

Notes:

[1] According to the acquisition report, dated June 12, 1992, the painting has been in the United States since at least 1919. Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer started collecting Asian art in 1914 and in the following years they acquired a number of Chinese paintings, primarily from Charles Lang Freer’s dealers in Shanghai.

[2] See Ruth Meyer Epstein’s Deed of Gift, dated July 9, 1992, copy in object file.

Previous Owner(s)

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

Label

This landscape depicting the joy of fishing is stylistically related to that of Yuan Jiang (active 1693-1746) and Yuan Yao (active 1739-80), father and son. Picnic on the Riverbank attributed to Yuan Jiang is displayed in the case on the left wall. Inspired by their commercial success, the two Yuans opened a painting workshop. However, many of their students, who adopted the Yuans' techniques and styles, remain unknown today-likely among them this painting's artist. Further complicating attribution, the original inscription, signature, and seal of this painting may have been removed from the upper right corner and replaced with a new patch of silk.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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