Artwork
明/清 佚名 舊傳陸青 洗馬圖 冊頁|Washing a Horse
明/清 佚名 舊傳陸青 洗馬圖 冊頁|Washing a Horse is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Lu Qing. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This ink-on-silk album leaf, titled Washing a Horse, captures a daily activity.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a single figure attending to an equine subject, capturing a moment of daily care rather than a ceremonial or mythological event.
Executed in 1639, this album leaf presents a genre scene focused on the mundane yet essential task of washing a horse. The composition depicts a single figure attending to an equine subject, capturing a moment of daily care rather than a ceremonial or mythological event. While historically attributed to Lu Qing, the work is now recognized as the product of an unidentified artist from the Ming or Qing dynasties.
The iconography is straightforward, emphasizing the physical interaction between man and animal through ink on silk. The painting represents a slice of life, documenting the routine maintenance of horses which were vital for transport and military purposes in China. Its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection highlights the artistic value placed on such realistic depictions of everyday activities during this period.
Technique & Style
The work is an album leaf painted in ink on silk, a traditional Chinese support that allows fine brush control and subtle tonal variations. Dated 1639 and traditionally attributed to the artist Lu Qing, the leaf presents a genre scene of a man washing a horse, rendered in monochrome ink with delicate line work and restrained wash to convey the animals’ form and the surrounding setting. Its dimensions are 30 cm high by 40.6 cm wide, fitting the intimate format of an album page.
The silk ground has been prepared to receive the ink, and the handling reflects the careful, controlled strokes characteristic of Ming‑Qing court‑related painting, though the work remains anonymous beyond the old attribution.
History & Provenance
The album leaf titled Washing a Horse, attributed to an unidentified artist formerly linked to Lu Qing and dated to 1639, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in ink on silk, measures 30 by 40.6 centimeters and is classified within the museum's paintings department as a genre scene depicting a man washing a horse. While the piece is part of the institution's permanent holdings, the provided records do not specify a unique accession or inventory number for this specific leaf, nor do they document any exhibition history or public display dates for the artwork.
Legacy
The work titled Washing a Horse, dated 1639, is an ink‑on‑silk album leaf attributed to the Lu Qing tradition and classified as a genre scene painting. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its inclusion signals scholarly recognition of Ming‑Qing anonymous figure painting. The depiction of a man washing a horse, recorded in both the work’s metadata and museum records, has contributed to its reputation as a representative example of the period’s courtly subjects.
Overview
This ink-on-silk album leaf, titled Washing a Horse, captures a daily activity. Though traditionally ascribed to Lu Qing and dated 1639, the artist remains unidentified. Designed for intimate contemplation rather than public display, the small format invites close examination of its detailed depiction of a man tending to an animal by a river.
Context
As an album leaf, this painting was created for personal enjoyment and close inspection rather than large-scale public exhibition. Its modest size encouraged an intimate engagement, allowing a viewer to appreciate the delicate details and brushwork in a private setting. Such works were often collected in albums, offering a curated sequence of visual experiences.
Artist & collection
