Letter to Nancun
Wang Chong was a prodigy who died young; his death shocked the scholarly community of Suzhou, especially his mentor Wen Zhengming, who continued to mourn him many years later. Wang writes here in a relaxed semicursive script, which allowed him to lift the brush less frequently than in formal standard script. As a result, many strokes and even characters are connected with fine ligatures. In this brief letter, Wang asks the recipient, a Mr. Nancun, for help with managing a contractor who is doing construction work on his land.
Artwork Details
- 明 王寵 行書致南村手札 冊頁
- Title: Letter to Nancun
- Artist: Wang Chong (Chinese, 1494–1533)
- Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Culture: China
- Medium: Album leaf; ink on paper
- Dimensions: 10 1/8 x 13 3/8 in. (25.7 x 34.0 cm)
- Classification: Calligraphy
- Credit Line: Bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., 1988
- Object Number: 1989.363.67
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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