Who painted 清龔賢山水圖冊|Landscapes?

清龔賢山水圖冊|Landscapes was painted by Gong Xian in 1680s.

Where can I see 清龔賢山水圖冊|Landscapes?

清龔賢山水圖冊|Landscapes is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 清龔賢山水圖冊|Landscapes?

清龔賢山水圖冊|Landscapes is associated with Baroque.

清　龔賢　山水圖　冊|Landscapes by Gong Xian (1680s)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a landscape painting, the subject matter depicts natural scenery, adhering to the traditional Chinese genre of representing the natural world.

The work consists of an album of six ink-on-paper landscapes created by Gong Xian in 1685. As a landscape painting, the subject matter depicts natural scenery, adhering to the traditional Chinese genre of representing the natural world. The collection held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art comprises these six distinct scenes, which collectively explore the artist's interpretation of mountain and water environments.

While the specific iconography of individual scenes within the album is not detailed in the provided records, the series as a whole represents the landscape tradition of the Qing dynasty, focusing on the atmospheric and structural qualities of nature through ink wash techniques.

Technique & Style

The work is an ink painting on paper, created as one leaf of a six‑leaf album of landscapes by Gong Xian in 1685. The sheets measure approximately 22.2 cm in height and 44.1 cm in width, reflecting the intimate scale typical of album leaves. Executed in ink, the piece exemplifies Chinese landscape painting of the Qing period, with a composition that balances expansive mountain forms and delicate brushwork.

The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the museum's collection of Chinese paintings.

History & Provenance

Gong Xian's album of six landscape paintings was created in 1685, executed in ink on paper. The work is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

No further details about its commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to the museum's acquisition are documented in the available sources.

The album is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is recorded with accession number 1973.120.1–.6.

It has been exhibited at the museum, first in 1973 as part of the installation “Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Permanent Collection,” and again in 1987 in the exhibition “The World of Scholars’ Rocks: Gardens, Studios, and Paintings from the Ming through the Ch’ing Dynasty.”

Overview

Gong Xian's album, Landscapes (清　龔賢　山水圖　冊), comprises six ink-on-paper paintings created around 1684. This collection exemplifies the artist's distinctive approach to landscape art, a central theme in Chinese painting. As a prominent figure of the Nanjing school during the transition from the Ming to the Qing Dynasties, Gong Xian was recognized for his innovative use of ink and his profound engagement with natural forms.

Context

Gong Xian was a pivotal figure in Chinese art during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, celebrated as a leading member of the Nanjing school and one of the esteemed Eight Masters of Jinling. Born in Kunshan, Jiangsu, his artistic contributions extended beyond painting; he was also highly regarded as a poet and calligrapher, often mentioned alongside contemporaries like Lu Qian for his multifaceted talents.

Artist & collection

Artist

Gong Xian

Gong Xian (simplified Chinese: 龚贤; traditional Chinese: 龔賢; pinyin: Gōng Xián; Wade–Giles: Kung Hsien; 1618–1689; the specific year of birth is disputed as early as 1617 or as late as 1620; born in Kunshan, Jiangsu) was…