Cultivated landscapes: Chinese paintings from the collection of Marie-Helene and Guy Weill

Abstract

This fully illustrated scholarly catalogue presents 12 major works by masters of the Ming (1368-1644), Qing (1644-1911), and modern periods given or promised to The Metropolitan Museum of Art by New York collectors Marie-Helene and Guy Weill. Authored by Metropolitan Museum curator Maxwell Hearn, the catalogue presents an in-depth discussion of each work together with a full transcription and translation of all inscriptions and seals. The volume begins with works that are quintessential embodiments of Ming literati values: a meditative landscape by Shen Zhou (1427-1509) and an idealized portrayal of a gentleman in his yet-to-be-built retirement garden by Wen Zhengming (1470-1559). These are followed by an outstanding group of paintings by early Qing loyalist and orthodox artists of the 17th and 18th centuries: a rare handscroll composition by the Nanjing painter Liu Yu (act. ca. 1650-after 1711); a monumental hanging scroll by the Anhui School master Dai Benxiao (1621-1693); a 12-leaf album by Mei Qing (1624-1697) - also from Anhui; a superb album of blossoming plum by the Yangzhou eccentric Li Fangying (1696-1755). There are important works by the two leading Orthodox School painters of the time: a 16-leaf album painted jointly by Wang Hui (1632-1717) and those of his disciples who assisted him in the execution of the Kangxi Southern Inspection Tour, and a superb hanging scroll dated 1710 by Wang Yuanqi (1642-1715). The catalogue also includes selections from Model Calligraphies from the Hall of Three Rarities and the Shiqu Baoji Collection, a rare set of imperially-commissioned rubbings of calligraphies in the Qing palace collection. In immaculate condition, the Weill set is further distinguished as having originally belonged to Dong Bangda (1699-1769), one of the proofreaders for this project. The catalogue concludes with noteworthy early works by the 20th-century masters Zhang Daqian and C.C. Wang.