Main Record
Full Image
How to interact with this image...
- to zoom in
- double-click in the image
- use the zoom in button
- to zoom out
- shift + double-click in the image
- use the zoom out button
- to pan
- click and drag the image
- use an arrow button (e.g. ) to pan the image in that direction
- to resize frame and starting image size
- choose the appropriate size from the Image Sizes menu
- Accession Number
- 1987/1.275
- Title
- Tao Yuanming Appreciating Chrysanthemums
- Artist
- Ni Tian (Ni T'ien)
- Artist Nationality
- Chinese
- Artist Life Dates
- 1855 - 1919
- Medium and Support
- hanging scroll, ink and color on paper
- Object Creation Date
- 1855-1919
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- China (nation)
- Jiangsu (province)
- Dimensions
- 148 cm x 38.8 cm (58 1/4 in. x 15 1/4 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification and Primary Object Type
-
Paintinghanging scroll
- Secondary Object Classification and Secondary Object Type
-
Paintingfigures on landscape
- Physical Description
- Pastoral poet Tao Yuanming (372–427) and a boy-servant bearing chrysanthemums on his back are shown. Two pine trees dominate the composition. Tao Yuanming’s forward gaze and slightly hunched posture exhibit his full inner exhilaration when chrysanthemums were collected. The subtle smile on the poet’s face seems also to reflect a moment of transcendence.
- Has signature and seal of the artist
- Subject Matter
- Although Ni Tian began his artistic education in his hometown of Yangzhou, he enjoyed success as a professional painter in Shanghai. Impressed with the commercial success of Shanghai painter Ren Yi (1840-1896), he assimilated Ren’s spontaneous and robust brushwork with great dexterity. Ni’s flowing brushstroke is apparent in this affectionate depiction of one of China’s great poets Tao Yuanming (372–427) and a boy-servant bearing chrysanthemums on his back. Two pine trees dominate the composition, contributing to the elegance of the scroll. Tao Yuanming’s forward gaze and slightly hunched posture exhibit his full inner exhilaration from collecting chrysanthemums. The subtle smile on the poet’s face seems also to reflect a moment of transcendence.
- Primary Keywords
- boy
- chrysanthemum
- figures
- flowers
- hanging scrolls
- ink
- man
- pine (tree)
- pines
- Secondary Keywords
- buildings and the land
- coating (material)
- coating by form
- descriptors
- evergreens
- herbaceous plants
- landscapes (environments)
- materials
- materials by function
- natural landscapes
- objects we use
- paintings
- paintings by form
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people and occupations
- people by gender
- plants
- scroll paintings
- settlements and landscapes
- the natural world
- trees
- trees by leaf life
- vegetation and vegetation components
- vegetation components
- visual works
- visual works by medium or technique
- woody plants
