What movement is 明傳仇英五星二十八宿神形圖卷|Divinities of the Planets and Constellations?

明傳仇英五星二十八宿神形圖卷|Divinities of the Planets and Constellations is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明傳仇英五星二十八宿神形圖卷|Divinities of the Planets and Constellations

明傳仇英五星二十八宿神形圖卷|Divinities of the Planets and Constellations is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Qiu Ying. It dates from 1549 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a piece of mythology, the imagery serves to visualize the spiritual entities associated with the five planets and the twenty-eight lunar mansions.

The handscroll depicts the mythological Divinities of the Planets and Constellations, a subject rooted in Chinese cosmological tradition. Created in 1549, the work illustrates these celestial beings through anthropomorphic figures accompanied by specific animal attributes, including men, horses, and birds. As a piece of mythology, the imagery serves to visualize the spiritual entities associated with the five planets and the twenty-eight lunar mansions.

The composition integrates human forms with zoomorphic elements to represent the complex iconography of these astral deities. This visual narrative captures the symbolic relationship between the heavens and the earthly realm, presenting the divinities in a manner consistent with the genre's focus on mythological representation.

Technique & Style

The work is executed as a handscroll using ink with subtle color washes on paper, a technique typical of Ming‑dynasty painting. Qiu Ying applied fine brushwork to render the mythological divinities, arranging the bird, horse, and man in a continuous narrative that unfolds across the scroll’s length. The medium’s translucency allows layered pigments to suggest celestial attributes while maintaining a delicate linear contour.

Formal qualities include a balanced composition that follows the sequential logic of the twenty‑eight lunar mansions, with stylized figures rendered in muted hues and precise line work. The painting’s condition is not documented in the available records.

History & Provenance

Created in 1549 in China, this handscroll painted in ink and color on paper is attributed to the artist Qiu Ying. The work, which depicts mythological figures including men, horses, and birds, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific circumstances of its original commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not provided in the available records, the piece is formally dated to the mid-sixteenth century and classified as a painting within the mythology genre.

The handscroll titled Divinities of the Planets and Constellations, attributed to the Ming dynasty artist Qiu Ying and dated to 1549, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in ink and color on paper, depicts mythological figures including men, birds, and horses. While the specific accession or inventory number is not detailed in the provided records, the museum's location is confirmed as New York.

The available sources do not contain information regarding specific past exhibitions or a detailed chronological exhibition history for this particular artwork.

Overview

This handscroll, titled Divinities of the Planets and Constellations, is attributed to the Ming dynasty artist Qiu Ying and dates to 1549. Executed with ink and color on paper, the work presents a mythological panorama. It visually interprets the celestial bodies and star groupings, transforming astronomical concepts into a vibrant narrative of divine figures.

Context

The integration of precise astronomical mapping with imaginative mythological storytelling distinguishes this handscroll. While celestial themes were common in art, the direct representation of constellations as a cast of active, personified characters, akin to a narrative sequence, was a distinctive artistic choice during the Ming dynasty. This fusion highlights a unique intersection of scientific understanding and cultural narrative.

Artist & collection

Artist

Qiu Ying

Chinese, ca. 1495–1552

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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