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Artwork

Nine Dragon Pool

Mei Qing , 1694

Nine Dragon Pool, by Mei Qing, unspecified, 1694
Nine Dragon Pool, by Mei Qing, unspecified, 1694

Nine Dragon Pool is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Mei Qing. It dates from 1694 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

He didn’t just copy the scene—he made the rocks sharper and the water wilder to show how powerful nature felt to him.

You see a tall waterfall tumbling down jagged rocks, its nine curves forming bright green pools.

Mei Qing painted this spot when he was 68, after climbing Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in heavy rain. The rushing water reminded him of nine white dragons. He didn’t just copy the scene—he made the rocks sharper and the water wilder to show how powerful nature felt to him.

For more landscapes like this, look up *china, qing dynasty (1644-1911)*.

Overview

Nine Dragon Pool is a painting by Mei Qing, created after his 1690 visit to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) at the age of 68. The work depicts a dramatic waterfall with nine curves forming emerald green pools, inspired by the site's appearance after heavy rain.

Subject & Meaning

The painting captures the transformative effect of rainfall on the waterfall, likening the rushing water to nine white dragons. This interpretation reflects the artist's subjective experience of nature's power.

Technique & Style

Mei Qing employed artistic license to amplify the natural scene, rendering the rocks more jagged and the water more turbulent, conveying his emotional response to the landscape's force.

History & Provenance

Created in 1690, during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the painting is associated with Mei Qing's second trip to Huangshan, a popular destination for 17th-century artists and visitors.

Context

Part of a broader tradition of Qing Dynasty landscape painting, Nine Dragon Pool can be contextualized within the artistic output of China during this period, characterized by expressive interpretations of natural landscapes.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Mei Qing

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…

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.