Artwork

Album of Landscape Paintings Illustrating Old Poems: Boy Holding a Horse

Album of Landscape Paintings Illustrating Old Poems: Boy Holding a Horse is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Hua Yan. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1982.68.8
Credit line: Edwin R. and Harriet Pelton Perkins Memorial Fund

About this work

Overview

This painting is part of an album by Hua Yan, a member of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, a group known for challenging traditional painting conventions.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a boy in simple attire standing beside a white horse, set against a backdrop of misty mountains fading into a pale sky. The boy appears larger than the horse, suggesting a possible emphasis on the human figure.

Technique & Style

Hua Yan's style is characterized by a departure from orthodox painting rules, reflecting the innovative spirit of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. The misty mountains and pale sky create a serene atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, allowing viewers to examine it up close.

Album of Landscape Paintings Illustrating Old Poems: Boy Holding a Horse, Hua Yan

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Artist & collection

Artist

Hua Yan

Hua Yan simplified Chinese: 华嵒; traditional Chinese: 華嵒; pinyin: Huà Yán; Wade–Giles: Hua Yen; courtesy name Qiu Yue (秋岳), sobriquets Xinluo Shanren (新罗山人), Dong Yuan Sheng (东园生), Buyi Sheng (布衣生), Ligou Jushi (离垢居士)and…