The Haven of the Peach-Blossom Spring China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

The Haven of the Peach-Blossom Spring

武陵桃源圖

mid-1400s

attributed to Shi Rui 石銳

(Chinese, c. 1400-c. 1470)

China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Album leaf; ink and slight color on silk

Image: 24.7 x 22.2 cm (9 3/4 x 8 3/4 in.); Overall: 66.7 x 40.4 cm (26 1/4 x 15 7/8 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1952.283

Location: not on view

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Did You Know?

Some fifty inhabitants of the Peach Blossom Spring gather in a small clearing surrounded by thatched huts and cottages.

Description

A miniature inspired by the “Peach Blossom Spring,” this painting illustrates the well-known tale written by the poet-recluse Tao Yuanming (365–427 CE), in which a fisherman accidentally discovers a hidden utopian village where residents live in harmony, untouched by the outside world's troubles. While the painting lacks a signature, scholars concur on its attribution to Shi Rui, evident from the dynamic landscape and the effortlessly rendered figures that showcase the artist's skill.