Scholar's Winter Retreat / Gai Qi (Kai Ch'i)

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About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number
1981/2.133
Title
Scholar's Winter Retreat
Artist Nationality
Chinese
Artist Life Dates
(1774 - 1829)
Object Creation Date
circa 1820
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
China (nation)
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
China (nation)
Inscription
Signed: Kai Ch'i; Dated: keng-ch'en (1820), eighth month. With an inscription by Huang Ju indicating tht the painting was presented to the artist Ch'ien Tu (1763-1844). Seals: One of Kai Ch'i: Kai Ch'i. One of Huang Jun: (undecipherable). Three collectors' seals: Chang Shou-chieh yin, Yung-yü shu-chai, Kuei an lu hsin yüan shen-ting. Additional inscription: On the mounting, giving biographical information about the artists and with three seals on the mount, including Teng kang wu kang, Ch'ing Yao and one other.
Dimensions
17.6 cm x 51.3 cm (6 15/16 in. x 20 3/16 in.)
Century
19th century
Primary Object Classification
Painting
Primary Object Type
album leaf
Secondary Object Classification
Painting
Secondary Object Type
bird and flower
Physical Description
A scholar sits in a relaxed posture at his desk looking at cut plum blossoms in a white vase; before him is an empty sheet of paper and ink stone, and by his side an attendant is boiling water for tea. A crane tucks her head and leg to keep herself warm in the cold winter air. The scholar seems to be contemplating a subject to be drawn or written, perhaps related to the flowers.
Subject Matter
A crane—an auspicious bird that denotes longevity—tucks her head and leg to keep herself warm in the cold winter air. Plum blossoms, like bamboo, were a favorite subject of literati artists (educated public servants who practiced painting and calligraphy), for their beauty and sweet fragrance. They were also a symbol of great moral integrity because they bloom in early spring when there is still snow.
The colophon is by Huang Chun and indicates that the painting was presented to the artist Chien Tu (1763-1844). There are a seals of the artist Gai Qi, Huang Chun, and three collectors.
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
1475 x 799
File Size
96 KB
Record
1981/2.133
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1981-sl-2.133/1981_2.133.jpg

Rights and Permissions

Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1981-SL-2.133:1981_2.133.JPG

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"Scholar's Winter Retreat; Gai Qi (Kai Ch'i)." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1981-sl-2.133/1981_2.133.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 19, 2024.
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