Who painted Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2?

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2 was painted by Chen Hongshou in 1625-01-01.

Where can I see Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2?

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2?

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2 is associated with Chinese Orthodox School.

Can I buy a print of Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2?

Museum-quality prints of Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2 are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2

Chen Hongshou , 1625

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2 is an unspecified painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist Chen Hongshou. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The book is titled Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2, made in 1625 by Chen Hongshou.

This is a book cover with a blank, dark brown page inside. The spine shows black ink characters on a faded, tan background. A small red stamp and a white label with handwritten notes are stuck to the bottom edge.

The book is titled Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2, made in 1625 by Chen Hongshou. It contains copies of older artwork, likely done by hand.

Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more of this book.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a figure drawn from classical antiquity, rendered through a composition that alludes to the solemn gravitas of earlier masters while subtly referencing scholarly virtues. Its iconography merges attributes of the learned scholar with motifs of literary achievement, symbolizing the fusion of moral philosophy and artistic practice. The work is interpreted as an embodiment of erudition and the contemplative ideal, reflecting the artist’s engagement with ancestral models and the intellectual currents of early Qing thought.

History & Provenance

Created in 1625 in China, this work is a painting by the artist Chen Hongshou. The piece, titled Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2, was produced during the early seventeenth century. It currently resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1979.27.2.

The specific circumstances regarding its original commission or the detailed chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the Cleveland institution are not detailed in the available records, though its creation date and authorship are firmly established.

Overview

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Volume 2 is a 1625 work by the Chinese painter Chen Hongshou, now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The object functions as a book cover, indicating a compilation of reproduced images of earlier artworks.

Technique & Style

The cover features a dark brown interior page and a spine bearing black ink characters set against a faded tan background. A small red seal and a white label with handwritten annotations are affixed to the lower edge, evidencing traditional Chinese book‑binding and labeling conventions.

Context

During the late Ming period, artists like Chen Hongshou often compiled and copied earlier masterpieces to study technique and composition. Such volumes served both educational and archival purposes, linking contemporary practice to the legacy of ancient masters.