Who painted Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters?

Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters was painted by Mei Qing in 1690.

Where can I see Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters?

Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters?

Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters

Mei Qing , 1690

Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Mei Qing. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1962.157
Credit line: John L. Severance Fund

About this work

Overview

Created in 1690 by Qing‑dynasty artist Mei Qing, Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters presents a decorative array of miniature scenes. The composition consists of alternating circular and square panels, each filled with a distinct landscape of trees, water and mountains, rendered in muted browns, greens and blues against a woven‑like background.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a visual anthology of Chinese scenery, drawing on the artist’s extensive journeys in the Yellow Mountains. By juxtaposing multiple views within a single surface, Mei offers a meditative survey of nature’s variety, echoing the poetic tradition in which he also excelled.

Technique & Style

Executed in the refined brushwork associated with the late Ming aesthetic, the painting employs delicate, layered strokes to suggest depth within each miniature tableau. Tiny details populate the circles, while the intervening squares feature a star‑like motif that unifies the overall pattern.

History & Provenance

The piece remains within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, illustrating the cross‑generational transmission of Chinese landscape conventions.

Mei Qing, born in Xuancheng, Anhui, studied under Wang Meng and maintained a friendship with the painter Shitao. Known by the style name Yuangong and the pseudonym Mount Qu, he integrated scholarly calligraphy and poetry into his visual practice. The piece remains within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, illustrating the cross‑generational transmission of Chinese landscape conventions.

Context

Although painted during the Qing period, the work aligns with the Ming painting tradition, emphasizing scholarly brush techniques and a reverence for classical motifs. Its format, multiple small vignettes, reflects a broader East Asian practice of compiling varied views to convey a comprehensive sense of the natural world.

Landscapes in Various Styles after Old Masters, Mei Qing

Artist & collection

Artist

Mei Qing

Mei Qing (Chinese: 梅清; pinyin: Méi Qīng; Wade–Giles: Mei Ch'ing; ca. 1623–1697) was a Chinese landscape painter, calligrapher and poet active during the Qing Dynasty. Mei was born in Xuancheng, Anhui Province. His…