About this work

In this painting, a man in a long, dark robe stands in a landscape, holding a scroll in his right hand. He faces right, with his left arm bent at the elbow and his head turned to look up. A red arrow points to a figure behind him, who is blue and has horns. The man's dark hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and he wears a green sash around his waist. His robe has a white collar and is tied at the waist with a blue sash. The background of the painting is a muted brown color, with some greenery visible behind the figures. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of movement and energy, with the man's dynamic pose and the red arrow drawing the viewer's eye. The Ashmolean Museum is home to a diverse collection of artworks, including paintings like this one.

The story of this work

Overview

Zhong Kui the Demon Queller with Five Bats is a Chinese painting featuring the Chinese mythological spirit Zhong Kui, dating to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). A possible painter is Wu Wei, though it is probably by a skilled but unknown artist in a similar style. The painting uses a vigorous "popular" style; it is now in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. It measures 160 x 111.5 cm.

Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Description

The picture shows Zhong Kui, accompanied by two of his demon followers. The demons are holding a vase and Zhong Kui holds a sceptre while looking up at five bats flying in the sky. In Chinese symbolism, the five bats represent five blessings: health, longevity, virtue, wealth, and a graceful death. The plum blossoms, pine, and bamboo represent perseverance. In the background is a forested mountain surrounded by a heavy mist. The painting shows a winter landscape; Zhong Kui was associated with repelling bad spirits and attracting blessings at the time of the Chinese New Year.

Read the full account in the museum source.

Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.