Artwork
元 佚名 玉谿思珉題贊 對月圖 軸|Reading a Sutra by Moonlight
元 佚名 玉谿思珉題贊 對月圖 軸|Reading a Sutra by Moonlight is an ink painting. It dates from 1332 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This hanging scroll, titled Reading a Sutra by Moonlight, is an anonymous ink painting on paper from the Yuan dynasty.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of serene introspection, emphasizing the subject's dedication to spiritual texts in a natural setting.
Created in 1332, this hanging scroll depicts a solitary monk engaged in the act of reading. As a work classified within the religious genre, the scene centers on a figure of spiritual devotion illuminated by moonlight. The composition focuses entirely on the monk's quiet study, presenting a visual narrative of ascetic practice and contemplation.
While the specific text being read is not identified in the available records, the imagery of a monk reading under the moon serves as a direct representation of religious discipline. The work captures a moment of serene introspection, emphasizing the subject's dedication to spiritual texts in a natural setting.
Technique & Style
Created in 1332 by an anonymous Chinese artist, this work is executed as a hanging scroll. The piece utilizes ink applied directly onto paper as its primary medium and support. Stylistically, the composition focuses on a solitary figure, identified as a monk or man, engaged in the act of reading.
The genre is classified as religious, reflecting the subject's devotional activity. The handling of the ink on the paper surface creates the depiction of the figure within the format of a vertical scroll, consistent with East Asian painting traditions of the Yuan dynasty period.
History & Provenance
Created in China in 1332, this hanging scroll executed in ink on paper is attributed to an anonymous artist. The work, which depicts a monk reading, bears an inscription or colophon by Yuxi Simin. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its current status are not provided in the available records, the piece is presently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The dating to the year 1332 establishes the work within the Yuan dynasty period.
The hanging scroll titled Reading a Sutra by Moonlight, dated to 1332, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, created by an unknown artist in China, is classified as a religious painting depicting a man or monk reading under moonlight. While the specific inventory or accession number is not detailed in the available records, the museum's collection database lists the piece as part of its holdings.
No specific exhibition history is documented in the provided sources, though the work remains a part of the museum's permanent collection of Chinese paintings.
Overview
This hanging scroll, titled Reading a Sutra by Moonlight, is an anonymous ink painting on paper from the Yuan dynasty. It depicts a solitary monk engaged in study during the night. The artwork captures a moment of quiet contemplation, rendered with a subtle palette and focused illumination, drawing the viewer into the scene's serene atmosphere.
Artist & collection
