Scholar with Roosters / Ren Yi (Jen I)
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1987/2.67
- Title
- Scholar with Roosters
- Artist
- Ren Yi (Jen I)
- Artist Nationality
- Chinese
- Artist Life Dates
- 1840-1896
- Medium and Support
- ink and color on paper
- Object Creation Date
- circa 1860-1896
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- China (nation)
- Shanghai Shi (municipality)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- China (nation)
- Creation Place 3
- Shanghai Shi (municipality)
- Inscription
- Artist's seal and signature; Collector's seal in lower right.
- Dimensions
- 133.3 cm x 75.3 cm (52 1/2 in. x 29 5/8 in.)
- Century
- 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Painting
- Primary Object Type
- hanging scroll
- Secondary Object Classification
- Painting
- Secondary Object Type
- figure painting
- Physical Description
- This large painting of a scholar and two roosters. The scholar site with books piled behind him, while the roosters below crane their necks to look back at him. The calligraphy on the top right reads:
- Would Your Excellency, my dear friend Xiaoting, kindly point out the inadequacies of this work? Ren Yi [a.k.a.] Bonian
- There are also two seals of the artist and one collectors seal.
- Subject Matter
- This large painting of a scholar and two roosters alludes to the story of Song Zong of the Jin dynasty (265–420). Song kept a rooster in his study and one day the bird began conversing with its master like a cultured gentleman of profound knowledge. Song benefited greatly from his pet’s conversation and subsequently became a famous scholar.
- In China a rooster is thought to possess five virtues: 1) education, represented by its crest which resembles a scholar’s hat; 2) fierceness, symbolized by its sharp talons; 3) bravery, because of its pugnacious disposition; 4) benevolence, as it clucks when it discovers food; and 5) trustworthiness, as evidenced by its daily crow at sunrise. The attainment of these virtues was thought to be the desire of every gentleman.
- Secondary Keywords
- animals and creatures
- birds
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- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 943 x 1483
- File Size
- 114 KB
- Record
- 1987/2.67
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1987-sl-2.67/1987_2.67.jpg
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Related Links
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IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1987-SL-2.67:1987_2.67.JPG
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- Full citation
-
"Scholar with Roosters; Ren Yi (Jen I)." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1987-sl-2.67/1987_2.67.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 16, 2024.
