Three poems
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.明 文彭 草書五言詩三首 冊 紙本
Here, Wen Peng follows the style of Sun Guoting (646–691), a leading calligrapher of the Tang dynasty (618–907) who was revered for his cursive writing. By the midsixteenth century, genuine works by Sun had become scarce. Born to the eminent Wen family of Suzhou, which boasted a great art collection and access to others in the area, Wen Peng might still have had the opportunity to study original calligraphy by Sun.
In this album Wen Peng transcribes three poems, presumably of his own composition, on the subjects of appreciating peach blossoms, a literary gathering in a Daoist temple, and cloudy mountains. In contrast to the monumental clerical script of the Thousand-Character Classic, these lyrical poems are written in small cursive script. The simplified forms of the characters and the freely linking brushstrokes create a sense of fluidity and animation.
Here, Wen Peng follows the style of Sun Guoting (646–691), a leading calligrapher of the Tang dynasty (618–907) who was revered for his cursive writing. By the midsixteenth century, genuine works by Sun had become scarce. Born to the eminent Wen family of Suzhou, which boasted a great art collection and access to others in the area, Wen Peng might still have had the opportunity to study original calligraphy by Sun.
In this album Wen Peng transcribes three poems, presumably of his own composition, on the subjects of appreciating peach blossoms, a literary gathering in a Daoist temple, and cloudy mountains. In contrast to the monumental clerical script of the Thousand-Character Classic, these lyrical poems are written in small cursive script. The simplified forms of the characters and the freely linking brushstrokes create a sense of fluidity and animation.
Artwork Details
- 明 文彭 草書五言詩三首 冊 紙本
- Title: Three poems
- Calligrapher: Wen Peng (Chinese, 1498–1573)
- Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Date: 1556
- Culture: China
- Medium: Album of five double leaves; ink on paper
- Dimensions: Image (each leaf): 12 7/8 × 7 3/4 in. (32.7 × 19.7 cm)
Overall (open): 12 7/8 × 14 3/4 in. (32.7 × 37.5 cm) - Classification: Calligraphy
- Credit Line: Lent by Guanyuan Shanzhuang Collection
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art