Clear Spring Beyond the Shore, Hanging scroll
Hua Yan
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on paper
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 136 cm; Width 61 cm
Introduction
This painting was created in the spring of the 11th year of the Qianlong reign (1746), when the 65-year-old Hua Yan resided at the serene Jietao Pavilion in Hangzhou. The composition progresses from distant to near, evoking a tranquil and refined atmosphere. In the background, rolling hills stretch endlessly, with clear springs flowing down the mountains. A stream separates the distant view from the foreground. On a nearby earthen mound stands a well-arranged grove of trees, and to the left of the grove is a courtyard, likely the secluded residence of a scholar. From Hua Yan’s inscribed poem in the upper right corner, we learn of his daily life of poetry recitals, drinking, and leisurely wandering—an idyllic existence. The scene reflects Hua Yan’s strong literati spirit and expresses his deep yearning for a peaceful and leisurely life.
The painting once bore the collector’s seal of Qin Zuyong, a representative artist of the late Qing ‘Lou Dong’(school of art).
