Recluse in Early Spring

Collections

Art Collectors' Council: 1995 - 2024

ClassificationsDRAWINGS

Date1689?

MediumHandscroll, ink and colors on paper

Dimensionsimage: 11 1/2 × 106 3/4 in. (29.2 × 271.1 cm.) overall: 12 × 336 1/4 in. (30.5 × 854.1 cm.) diameter (closed): 3/4 in. (1.9 cm.) tying ribbon: 1/2 × 17 1/2 in. (1.3 × 44.5 cm.) toggle: 3/4 × 2 × 3/16 in. (1.9 × 5.1 × 0.5 cm.)

Descriptionnote: the length is the total length of the painted, exhibitable section of the handscroll; the scroll itself actually is much longer—it has a long section of uninscribed blank paper

SignedArtist’s Signature: “Sketched in the autumn of a jisi year [1689], Gu Qiao” (Jisi qiu xie, Gu Qiao 己巳秋寫，顧樵)

InscribedColophon: The poetry pavilions in Yangzhou shut out the fragrant dust— thousands of blossoms, a myriad flowers, chilly in springtime light. Along ten li of pearl curtains, a single note from a flute— broken-hearted by the easterly wind, someone leans against a balcony. I once answered a summons from the Recluse of Lonesome Mountain— among watery mist and chilly ripples, the moon’s crescent melting away. The sound of a flute woke me from my dream of pear blossom clouds. I remember the feel of the easterly wind, as I leaned into my painted oar. Gu Qiao modelled his painting style on the masters of the fallen dynasty, often achieving divine excellence. This scroll captures his poetic inspiration. Today, this, too, is lost. After unrolling this painting, I informally inscribe these two quatrains to record my profound appreciation. The 16th day of the 9th month of a xinhai year [1671]. Zhizhai, Fang Xia 楊州詩閣掩芳塵，萬萼千葩冷照春十里珠簾一聲笛，東風腸斷倚樓人曾赴孤山處士招，水煙寒淡月魂銷篴聲喚醒梨雲夢，記得東風[倚?]畫橈樵水畫宗法勝過，往往入神。此幀乃其興酣得意之筆，在今亦廣陵散矣。展對之餘漫題二絕以識幽賞。辛亥菊月既望，知齋方夏。 [Seal: “Style name: Nanming” (Zi Nanming 字南明)]

MarkingsArtist’s Seal: Qiao 樵

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Purchased with funds from the Art Collectors' Council, with additional support from the Connie Perkins Endowment

Status

Not on view

Object number2024.17