Artwork
清 袁耀 雪棧行旅圖 軸|Inn and Travelers in Snowy Mountains
清 袁耀 雪棧行旅圖 軸|Inn and Travelers in Snowy Mountains is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Yuan Yao. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The piece remains classified as a landscape painting, focusing on the interplay between the built environment and the imposing, snow-laden mountains.
Created in 1745, Inn and Travelers in Snowy Mountains is executed as a hanging scroll utilizing ink and color applied directly onto a silk support. This medium and format are characteristic of traditional Chinese landscape painting from the Qing dynasty. The work depicts a mountainous terrain covered in snow, employing the artist's skill in rendering atmospheric conditions and architectural elements within a natural setting.
The handling of ink and pigment on the silk fabric allows for the depiction of the rugged landscape and the travelers navigating the snowy pass. The piece remains classified as a landscape painting, focusing on the interplay between the built environment and the imposing, snow-laden mountains.
History & Provenance
The hanging scroll was painted in 1745 in China by the mid‑18th‑century artist Yuan Yao, employing ink and polychrome on silk. Its subject matter depicts a snow‑covered mountain landscape, aligning with the genre of Chinese landscape painting. Following its creation, the work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
Documentation of the original commission or patron is not recorded in the available sources, leaving the circumstances of its commission unspecified. The piece is classified as a landscape painting and is catalogued under the title "Inn and Travelers in Snowy Mountains".
The hanging scroll Inn and Travelers in Snowy Mountains by Yuan Yao, dated 1745, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified as a painting within that institution's holdings. No specific accession number, acquisition date, or exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Yuan Yao's "Inn and Travelers in Snowy Mountains," created in 1745, is a hanging scroll rendered with ink and color on silk. This painting presents a vast landscape scene, characteristic of traditional Chinese art, focusing on a dramatic mountain environment blanketed in snow. The composition integrates human elements, depicting small figures navigating the formidable natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork portrays a formidable mountain pass enveloped in winter, where a winding path leads to a roadside inn. Tiny figures of travelers are shown making their way through the snow-covered terrain, emphasizing the scale and power of nature against human endeavor. The presence of the inn suggests a momentary refuge within the harsh, expansive landscape.
Artist & collection
