Ink on paper laid onto board, painting
China, 18th/19th century
Landscape in the manner of Shen Zhou (1427–1509)
Poetic inscription, cyclical date and signed ‘Chang Zhou Shen Zhou’ with two seals in the upper right register
Image 45 ½ x 29 ¼ in. (height x width), overall 52 ½ x 35 ¾ in. (height x width)
Provenance: Property from the Fetté Family Collection, Saint Louis, Missouri

This inky landscape depicts mountains fading into the distance below a poetic inscription: ‘High mountains, waters distant and roads remote…’ In the foreground, a scholar and his qin-carrying attendant cross a bridge. They are moving towards a house on a grassy riverbank with dense tree cover, and are perhaps returning home.

Shen Zhou (1427–1509), courtesy name Qinan, was a Chinese master of the Ming dynasty. He was born into a wealthy family in Changzhou, which is modern Suzhou in the south of Jiangsu province. However varied in style and subject matter, Shen’s art consistently bears his unique touch of an abiding confidence, restrained calmness, and subtle warmth. His cultivated lifestyle and artistic accomplishments earned him reverence from artists devoted to the ideals of the literati tradition. Shen is regarded as one of the painting elite – ‘the Four Masters of Ming’.

The painting has been laid to board. The paper has sustained much toning, surface wear and small rips, but has been stabilized by the pasting to the board. The painting measures 52 ½ x 35 ¾ in. overall, while the image measures 24 ½ x 29 ¼ in. (height x width).

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