Artwork
清 王緣 趙之謙肖像 軸|Portrait of Zhao Zhiqian
清 王緣 趙之謙肖像 軸|Portrait of Zhao Zhiqian is an ink painting by the Impressionist artist Wang Yuan. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait, the piece uses the paper support to render the likeness of a male subject through the application of both monochrome ink and polychrome pigments.
Created in 1871 by Wang Yuan, the Portrait of Zhao Zhiqian is executed in ink and color on paper and mounted as a hanging scroll, a traditional format for Chinese portraiture, measuring 106 cm in height and 33.7 cm in width. As a portrait, the piece uses the paper support to render the likeness of a male subject through the application of both monochrome ink and polychrome pigments. The medium and mounting style reflect standard Qing dynasty practice for formal portraiture, prioritizing the durable paper surface to capture the sitter's features within a vertical, scroll-based composition.
History & Provenance
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is recorded under the accession number 2015.540.1. It has not been recorded as part of any public exhibition in the museum's collection records or curatorial documentation accessible as of the latest available sources.
Overview
This hanging scroll, created by Wang Yuan in 1871, captures the likeness of Zhao Zhiqian, a prominent figure in 19th-century Chinese art. Executed with ink and color on paper, the portrait presents a seated man gazing directly forward. It offers insight into the artistic exchanges and personal connections within the cultural circles of the late Qing dynasty.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of this work is Zhao Zhiqian, a celebrated calligrapher and painter active during the 1800s. Wang Yuan, the artist, moved within the same artistic and intellectual spheres, suggesting this portrait may have been conceived as a personal tribute or an acknowledgment of a peer. The depiction serves as a visual record of a significant cultural figure.
Artist & collection
