Artwork
清 佚名 仿惲壽平 夏夜清荷圖 軸|Lotuses on a summer evening
清 佚名 仿惲壽平 夏夜清荷圖 軸|Lotuses on a summer evening is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Yun Shouping. It dates from 1684 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This hanging scroll, titled Lotuses on a Summer Evening, was created in 1684 by an unknown artist.
- Accession no.
- 1982.470
- Credit line
- Gift of Marie-Hélène and Guy Weill, in honor of Professor Wen Fong, 1982
About this work
Technique & Style
The format of a hanging scroll indicates the work was designed for vertical display, a standard presentation method for such paintings in the Chinese tradition.
Lotuses on a Summer Evening is executed as a hanging scroll created with ink and color applied to paper. Dating to 1684, the work is by an anonymous painter working in imitation of the style of Yun Shouping, as the Chinese title indicates. The piece depicts lotus flowers, utilizing the traditional Chinese medium of pigment and ink on a paper support.
The format of a hanging scroll indicates the work was designed for vertical display, a standard presentation method for such paintings in the Chinese tradition. The combination of ink and color on paper reflects the typical materials used for this genre during the period.
History & Provenance
The hanging scroll titled Lotuses on a Summer Evening was painted in 1684 by an anonymous artist imitating the style of the Qing dynasty painter Yun Shouping. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work originates from China and depicts a lotus motif. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a painting on paper.
While the specific accession number is not provided in the available records, the museum identifies the piece as a work made after Yun Shouping and originating from China. The sources do not contain details regarding a documented exhibition history for this particular artwork.
Overview
This hanging scroll, titled Lotuses on a Summer Evening, was created in 1684 by an unknown artist. Executed with ink and color on paper, the painting depicts lotuses in a manner characteristic of Qing dynasty aesthetics. The work is a deliberate imitation of the style of Yun Shouping (1633–1690), a highly regarded painter and calligrapher of the period, whose influence is evident in the composition and brushwork.
Context
The artwork reflects the enduring legacy of Yun Shouping, an influential figure in early Qing dynasty painting. Known by his courtesy name Nantian, Yun was celebrated for his distinctive approach to flower-and-bird painting, often incorporating landscape elements. He was recognized as one of the "Six Masters" of the Qing period, a group that also included the Four Wangs and Wu Li, whose collective styles significantly shaped the artistic landscape of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Yun Shouping (Chinese: 惲壽平; 1633 – 1690), also known as Nantian (Chinese: 南田), was a Chinese calligrapher and painter.
