Pavilion in an Autumn Grove

Reviving and reinterpreting the styles and archetypical compositional formulas of the old masters has been a common practice for Chinese painters throughout history.  In this scroll, Cheng Jiasui, who devoted himself to poetry and painting after failing the examinations to become a public official, chose to paint in the style of the famous Yuan dynasty master Ni Can (1301-74), whom Cheng mentions in his inscription.  Ni Can's original paintings are renowned for their ineffably light, dry brushwork and emotive spareness.  His approach was especially admired by scholars in the seventeenth century who felt that appreciation of Ni Can's tranquil or so-called bland style reflected their own erudition and refinement.  Followers of Ni Can, however, could never quite duplicate his original technique; so here, while copying a typical Ni Can composition, Cheng Jiasui interjected his own personal touch, which is looser and more decorative than Ni Can's. Nevertheless, Cheng was able to maintain the mood of subdued elegance associated with Ni Can.