Jingting Mountain (敬亭山) by Chen Ming (陳鳴) & Qianlong Emperor’s Shenmiao (神妙) Reproduction - Pair of Hanging Scrolls - China - 20th century

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【Product details】

This lot consists of two Chinese hanging scrolls, both hand-painted and mounted with wooden roller ends. Each scroll presents a unique connection to classical Chinese culture, poetry, and imperial art.

The first scroll, hand-painted on paper, is by the artist Chen Ming, dated 1990, and is based on the celebrated Tang dynasty poet Li Bai’s work “Alone Sitting on Jingting Mountain”. The painting depicts a serene mountain landscape infused with the spirit of Li Bai’s poem:
“衆鳥高飛盡 孤雲獨去閒 相看兩不厭 只有敬亭山”

“All the birds have flown high away, a solitary cloud drifts on its own.
We gaze at each other, never growing tired, only this Jingting Mountain remains.”

This poem reflects the poet’s quiet communion with nature and the profound sense of solitude, which Chen Ming conveys through a refined ink landscape. The scroll is signed and sealed by the artist, with the date inscribed as “Gengwu, Fifth Month” (1990).

The second scroll, hand-painted on silk, is an homage piece associated with the Qianlong Emperor 乾隆帝 (1711–1799), the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty, known for his deep appreciation of art and literature. It is a faithful reproduction of a work originally inspired by the Ming dynasty master Shen Zhou 沈周, whose integration of painting, poetry, and calligraphy profoundly influenced later generations. Qianlong copied Shen Zhou’s painting, the attached poem, and an inscription added by Geng Kuan 庚寛, finally bestowing his own title “神妙” (Shenmiao, meaning “sublime” or “wondrous”), as his highest praise.

The lengthy inscription includes Shen Zhou’s original poetic text beginning “樓觀倚青霄…” along with Geng Kuan’s later colophon, all carefully reproduced here in brush and ink. This scroll bears the imperial phrase “乾隆甲辰秋 御筆” (Qianlong, Autumn of the Jiachen Year, Imperial Brush), corresponding to 1784. Although this piece is a later hand-painted reproduction, it carries the cultural and historical weight of Qianlong’s reverence for Shen Zhou.

Condition: Both scrolls show minor blemishes consistent with age, but remain in good used condition. Please refer to the photos for details.

Overall Dimensions of 1st Scroll: approx. H 176 cm W 61.5 cm
Overall Dimensions of 2nd Scroll: approx. H 188.5 cm W 72 cm

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Thank you for your interest, and happy bidding!