Lady Xuanwen Giving Instruction on the Rites of Zhou

宣文君授經圖

1638

Chen Hongshou 陳洪綬

(Chinese, 1598/99–1652)

Image: 172.8 x 55.7 cm (68 1/16 x 21 15/16 in.); Overall: 293.9 x 71 cm (115 11/16 x 27 15/16 in.); with knobs: 293.9 x 79 cm (115 11/16 x 31 1/8 in.)

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1961.89

Location: not on view

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Did You Know?

Chen Hongshou's long inscription at the top of the painting compares his virtuous aunt with the historical exemplar, Lady Xuanwen.

Description

This painting by Chen Hongshou depicts the story of Xuanwen Jun, or Lady of Literary Propagation, at a venerable age, instructing young scholars on the Confucian classics. It was painted for Chen’s aunt in celebration of her 60th birthday.

Chen’s painting style is archaic in the use of fine outlines and brilliant coloring with mineral pigments. In depicting the figures, he uses the “iron-wire” brush style (fine, even lines) with deliberate control. The faces are elongated and exaggerated. A few ritual bronzes lend the scene an antique flavor.