Old masters, snow and wild geese

Wang Hui

Wang Hui, an early Qing painter who worked in the manner of the old masters, from 1662 to 1713. Snowy peaks stand white against a grey ink sky in a scene after Li Cheng, a waterfall drops in steps through a rock arch on the brown silk of Mount Taihang, and lines of wild geese cross a wide river past a tall cliff. With his assistants he painted the Kangxi Emperor’s tour on the road to Mount Tai: green mountains, red-walled temples and crowds in blue at a walled gate.

As a puzzle

Start with the Southern Inspection Tour, the most colourful: blue robes, red temple walls and the pale stone gateway, then the green peaks around them; it takes a high count. The others are ink on pale paper or brown silk, with wide mist, blank sky and still water, so begin with the darkest trees, the roofs and the boats. Mount Taihang fades to bare silk on the right, and the copy after him, in soft green and orange, is easier than the grey scrolls. Keep the snow scene, the clearing after rain and the album leaf low.

A good size here: 30–250 pieces.

Also filed under Chinese Painting

Subjects here: Landscapes Mountains Rivers and Lakes Winter

6 pictures, pick one to build

The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour, Scroll Three: Ji'nan to Mount Tai Wang Hui and assistants, datable to 1698

Landscapes after old masters dated 1674 and 1677

The Colors of Mount Taihang dated 1669

Snow Clearing: Landscape after Li Cheng dated 1669

Landscape in the Style of Juran and Yan Wengui Dated 1713

Clearing after Rain over Streams and Mountains dated 1662