Artwork
明/清 佚名 傳王齊翰 商山四皓圖 卷|Scholars and Monkeys under Trees
明/清 佚名 傳王齊翰 商山四皓圖 卷|Scholars and Monkeys under Trees is an ink painting. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The handscroll titled “Scholars and Monkeys under Trees” portrays a man accompanied by a monkey beneath a tree, as recorded in the work’s catalogue entry.
The handscroll titled “Scholars and Monkeys under Trees” portrays a man accompanied by a monkey beneath a tree, as recorded in the work’s catalogue entry. The composition shows a human figure alongside a simian companion within a vegetated landscape, a scene that the sources identify as the depicted subject. No explicit symbolic or iconographic interpretation is provided in the documentation; the meaning is conveyed through this literal representation of scholarly figures and a monkey in a natural setting.
The painting, dated 1639 and executed in ink on silk, thus illustrates a moment of human‑monkey interaction under arboreal shade, reflecting a literal narrative rather than an elaborated allegory.
Technique & Style
This work is a handscroll executed in ink on a silk support, measuring 24.1 cm in height by 161.6 cm in width. Stylistically, the painting is categorized within the landscape genre and formally depicts men, monkeys, and trees. The composition is attributed to an anonymous artist and was created in China with an inception date of 1639.
Originally attributed to Wang Qihan, the piece is now cataloged as an anonymous Ming or Qing dynasty work, reflecting its current condition and scholarly reevaluation. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Created in 1639 in China, this handscroll painted with ink on silk is attributed to an unknown artist, though traditionally associated with Wang Qihan. The work, depicting scholars and monkeys beneath trees, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the piece is classified as a landscape genre painting from the Ming or Qing dynasty period.
The physical dimensions of the scroll are recorded as 24.1 centimeters in height and 161.6 centimeters in width.
Context
The handscroll titled “Scholars and Monkeys under Trees” (明/清 佚名 傳王齊翰 商山四皓圖 卷) dates to 1639 and was executed in ink on silk. It belongs to the landscape genre and portrays a solitary scholar accompanied by monkeys beneath a tree, a motif linked to literati ideals of harmony with nature. The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having entered the collection in the early 20th century.
Its creation in China and stylistic anonymity reflect the broader tradition of anonymous court‑affiliated painters active during the late Ming–early Qing period. Scholars view it as an important example of early modern Chinese handscroll composition, illustrating how anonymous artists contributed to the evolution of landscape painting in the region.
Overview
"Scholars and Monkeys under Trees" is an ink-on-silk handscroll, attributed to an anonymous artist from the Ming or Qing dynasty, potentially linked to Wang Qihan. This painting depicts a tranquil scene featuring human figures and monkeys amidst a natural setting. Its detailed yet understated composition captures a quiet moment, characteristic of traditional Chinese landscape and figure painting.
Artist & collection
