Landscapes after Ancient Masters

Inscription: Artist’s inscriptions and signatures

Leaf A (5 columns in semi-cursive script):

These brushstrokes are between “Elder Mi” [Mi Fu, 1052-1107] and “Younger Mi” [Mi Youren, 1074-1151]. [Signed] Qushan

著筆在大米、小米之間。瞿山

Leaf B (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Liu Songnian [active ca. 1175-after 1195]

倣劉松年。

Leaf C (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Ma Yaofu [Ma Yuan, active ca. 1190-1225] and also imitating Jing [Hao, active ca. 870-ca. 930] and Guan [Tong, active ca. 907-23]

倣馬遙父，兼效荊、關。

Leaf D (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Li Yingqiu [Li Cheng, 919-967]

倣李營丘。

Leaf E (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Fan Kuan [active ca. 990-1030]

倣范寬。

Leaf F (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Meihua Daoren [Wu Zhen, 1280-1354]

倣梅華道人。

Leaf G (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Shitian Laoren [Shen Zhou, 1427-1509]

倣石田老人。

Leaf H (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After the brush idea of Wu Zhonggui [Wu Zhen, 1280-1354]

倣吳仲圭筆意。

Leaf I (2 columns in semi-cursive script):

After the brush idea of Guo Heyang [Guo Xi, ca. 1000-ca. 1090]

倣郭河陽筆意。

Leaf J (2 columns in semi-cursive script):

After the brush idea of Li Xianxi [Li Cheng, 919-967]

倣李咸熙筆意。

Leaf K (1 column in semi-cursive script):

After Huaguang Laoren [Zhongren, died 1123]

倣華光老人。

Leaf L (1 column in semi-cursive script and 4 columns in semi-cursive script, dated 1693):

After the Yellow Crane Mountain Wood Gatherer [Wang Meng, ca. 1308-1385]

倣黃鶴山樵。

In the tenth lunar month of the guiyou year [October 29-November 26, 1693], I imitated the brush ideas of twelve masters to send to Master Zeweng for his instruction. [Signed] Qushan, Mei Qing

癸酉十月，倣十二家筆意，寄澤翁先生大教。瞿山梅清

Leaf M (10 columns in semi-cursive script, dated 1693):

I raise my head toward Yunmen [south of Yidu, Shandong Province] a thousand miles away,
Where you set a fine example in governing the prefecture.
Your brilliance extends from the sea to the mountains like an everlasting spring,
Your fame grows in Qing [present-day Yidu] and Qi [present-day Ji’nan, Shandong] where your praises abound.
A great talent from the capital,
You are like a swift-footed steed that descends from heaven.
Contemplating [the world], you should be pleased with your accomplishments in your official career,
So in your dreams why would you turn to the Six Essentials [of painting]?[1]

In the tenth lunar month of the guiyou year [October 29-November 26, 1693], presented to Master Zeweng for his instruction. Drafted by Qushan, Mei Qing.

翹首雲門千里遙，使君佐郡見芳標。
光連海岳春常滿，望聳青齊譽並饒。
奕奕鴻材原闕里，翩翩驥足自層霄。
臨風每切登龍願，夢寐何當托六要。

癸酉十月奉寄澤翁先生教之， 瞿山梅清稿。


Artist's seals

Bojian shankou renjia 柏梘山口人家 (Leaves A, F)
Mei Qing siyin 梅清私印 (Leaf A)
Huasong 畫松 (Leaf B)
Ke wei zhizhe dao 可為知者道 (Leaf C)
Sanmei you 三昧遊 (Leaf D)
Meichi 梅癡 (Leaf E)
Youxi sanmei 遊戲三昧 (Leaf G)
Lao Qu Qing 老瞿清 (Leaf H)
Zizhen zhi yi 子真之裔 (Leaf I)
Jingting 敬亭 (Leaf J)
Qushan 瞿山 (Leaf K)
Quxing Shanren 瞿硎山人 (Leaf L)
Chen Qing; Qushan 臣清，瞿山 (Leaf L)
Chaxia Caotang 茶峽草堂 (Leaf M)
Quxing Qing 瞿硎清 (Leaf M)
Yuangong 淵公 (Leaf M)


Label strip

Unidentified artist (20th c.), 1 column in standard script, undated (on cover):

Mei Qushan's imitations of the ancients, twelve leaves, [and] one leaf with poem

梅瞿山仿古十二幀， 附詩一幀。


Collectors' seals

Unidentified
Yingzhou Kongshi shijia cang shuhua ji 瀛州孔氏世家藏書畫記 (Leaf A)
Pingqiao zengjie yiguan 平橋曾借一觀 (Leaves D,G, H)
Cao Zhongrong shending zhenpin zhi yin 曹仲榮審定珍品之印 (Leaf M)
Tongyin Zhai yin 通隱齋印 (Leaf M)
Chengzhai jiancang 澄齋鑒藏 (Leaf M)


[1] Translation by Maxwell K. Hearn, from Hearn, Cultivated Landscapes: Chinese Paintings from the Collection of Marie-Hélène and Guy Weill. Exh. cat. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002, p. 172, based on the earlier work of Zhixin Jason Sun.

Marie-Hélène and Guy A. Weill , New York, by 1983; bequeathed in 2015 to MMA

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Cultivated Landscapes: Reflections of Nature in Chinese Painting with Selections from the Collection of Marie-Hélène and Guy Weill," September 10, 2002–February 9, 2003.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Dreams of Yellow Mountain: Landscapes of Survival in Seventeenth-Century China," September 13, 2003–February 22, 2004.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Chinese Painting, Masterpieces from the Permanent Collection," August 28, 2004–February 20, 2005.