The Orchid Pavilion Gathering

1732, color added 1739

Chen Fu

Chinese, active 1730s

Featuring the most celebrated literati gatherings in Chinese history, where the Sage of Calligraphy Wang Xizhi (303-361) was said to have composed the Preface to the Lanting Pavilion, this painting shows a group of scholars engaging in various lofty pursuits. Wine is delivered on the river, to be enjoyed by the relaxed scholars. In this dense composition, Chen positions most figures along the river and shows a more expansive view than the format can normally accommodate. The inscription on the upper left is Chen's copy of the "Preface to the Lanting Pavilion".

Ink and color on paper

Overall: 13 1/4 x 25 7/8 in. (33.7 x 65.8 cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

52.138

Provenance: Howard C. Hollis

Photo: Elizabeth Mann

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Chinese Art: A Seattle Perspective, Dec. 22, 2007 - July 26, 2009.

Tokyo, Japan, Suntory Museum of Art, Luminous Jewels: Masterpieces of Asian Art From the Seattle Art Museum, July 25 - Sept. 6, 2009 (Kobe, Japan, Kobe City Museum, Sept. 19 - Dec. 6, 2009; Kofu, Japan, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Dec. 23, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010; Atami, Japan, MOA Museum of Art, Mar. 13 - May 9, 2010; Fukuoka, Japan, Fukuoka Art Museum, May 23 - July 19, 2010).

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Terratopia: The Chinese Landscape in Painting and Film, July 2, 2016 - Feb. 26, 2017.

Published ReferencesKawai, Masatomo, Yasuhiro Nishioka, Yukiko Sirahara, editors, "Luminous Jewels: Masterpieces of Asian Art From the Seattle Art Museum", 2009, The Yomiuri Shimbun, catalogue number 87

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