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About the Artwork
Wang Hui 王翬, a leading painter in the orthodox school of the early Qing dynasty (1644–1911), was commissioned to paint this landscape with a country estate for Li Duna 勵杜納 (1628–1703), vice minister of justice in Emperor Kangxi’s court. The emperor had honored Li by granting him a piece of calligraphy with the name of Li’s retirement retreat, “Hall of Lofty Pines.” He drew a comparison between pines and Li’s upright character, resilience, and longevity. Wang Hui’s painting was supposed to allow Li to imagine living in a beautiful, secluded compound among the hills and pines. Sadly, Li died before seeing the completed painting and before receiving the emperor’s permission to retire. The landscape begins with peaceful riverbanks and low hills. The pines around the estate in the middle of the handscroll are truly lofty, some stretching even beyond the frame of the painting. Li Duna, the estate’s owner, is shown twice in his serene mountain retreat: first approaching the entrance to the compound with two servants at the right, and then later in the scroll, to the left, reading in the comfort of an inner room.
Inscriptions
[題] 松喬堂圖 康熙癸未夏六月, 海虞耕煙散人王翬畫。[印]王翬之印; 石谷. [左下] 來青閣; 耕煙野老時年七十有二.; 松喬堂圖一卷，海虞石谷王君為靜海近公厲少司冦公作也。圖成于癸未之夏。未幾而公遂仙去。公令子今編修君南湖屬余題跋其後。余與公同官侍從，交契最深。側見公之清修純德，蔚為聖天子所眷重。侍直內廷，密勿贊襄，幾二十餘年。蒼生之所以受賜，士林之所以沐德者，天下莫能窺，在廷莫能悉。而公卒不言。以故宸衷日益契，恩禮亦日益渥。雖年逾懸車，時有歸老之念。而上固不聼公之去。其所謂松喬堂者，御書以賜公者也。蓋以松比公之清風勁節，而歲寒不改，經霜彌茂。則又以期公之壽考未有艾焉。公知此身未易乞，而山林槃磵之樂，止可寄諸寤思。此松喬堂圖之所由作也歟。石谷此圖，結構精密，筆墨超邁。其寫樹木之蒼蔚，堂宇之靚幽。恍見摩詰輞川樂天廬山之勝。獨惜公未得一日徜徉故園以償其願。即繪於圖亦未得以永其趣，此編修君之所以眷眷不忘也。雖然千歳之松喬，下蔭百畝，上以修棟梁之需。然則上當日名堂之意，不更望於後之人襲其芘而養其材也哉。吾願編修君之寶斯圖。并望君之塗塈丹雘，大其堂構也已矣。 康熈丙戍重陽三日，雲間王鴻緒跋。; 10 additional seals: 1 seal of Li Duna 勵杜納 (1628–1703); 4 seals of Zha Ying 查瑩 (jinshi of 1766); 5 seals of Li Yun (dates unknown).
Provenance
1703: Li Duna 勵杜納 [1628–1703], by descent to Li Tingyi 1703-?: Li Tingyi 勵廷儀 [1669–1732] Zha Ying 查瑩 [jinshi of 1766] Li Enqing 李恩慶 [about 1797–about 1858] Wan-go H. C. Weng 翁萬戈 [1918–2020], Lyme, NH ?–1997: Mr. and Mrs. A. Dean Perry [Helen Wade Greene Perry] [1911–1996], Cleveland, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art 1997-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Exhibition history
1000 Jahre Chinesische Malerei. Haus der Kunst, Munich, Mùnich, Germany (organizer) (October 16-December 13, 1959). Chinese Gallery 240a Rotation – August 2016. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (August 1, 2016-February 6, 2017).
Quick Overview
- Artist
- Wang Hui (Chinese, 1632–1717)
- Date
- 1703
- Medium
- handscroll; ink and color on paper
- Dimensions
- Overall: 40.7 cm (16 in.)
- Type
- Painting
- Classification
- Painting
- Department
- Chinese Art
- Credit line
- Bequest of Mrs. A. Dean Perry
- Accession no.
- 1997.106
More by Wang Hui 王翚 in museum collections
Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.
Open-access museum record · AT-00009553
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