清 沈銓 月季桃鶴圖 軸|Cranes, peach tree, and China rose

Shen Quan

18th century · Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk · Asian Art

In 1731 the court painter Shen Quan traveled to Nagasaki at the request of the Japanese government. During his nearly two years in Japan, Shen and his students produced a large number of paintings in this style—typified by bold ink brushwork for rocks and trees paired with meticulous application of color for birds and flowers—which served as an enduring inspiration to Japanese artists. This example combines cranes, peaches, and lingzhi fungus, all symbols of longevity or immortality, along with bamboo and China rose (yueji).

Artist

Shen Quan

Date

18th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975