Insects and Flowers

Inscription: 現代　齊白石　草蟲四屏　鏡框
Qi Baishi, Chinese, 1864–1957
Insects and Flowers
China, 1948
Set of four paintings; two frames, each with two paintings; ink and color on paper
Each: image: 17 5/8 × 9 7/8 in. (44.8 × 25.1 cm)
Country of Origin: China, Asia
Promised Gift of Jack and Susy Wadsworth
Object Number: L.2022.15.2a–f


Artist’s inscriptions and signatures

Painting A (2 columns in semi-cursive script)

Reminding people of Cowherd of the Double Seventh,
Your name is called with love that never lessens.
[Signed] Baishi

果然七夕牽牛後，萬世人間喚是名。
白石

Painting B (2 columns in semi-cursive script)

You are blamed even when the plates are empty.

Cockroaches are also known as oil-stealing biddies.
[Signed] Baishi

盤空也歎謂君偷。

此蟲呼為偷油婆。白石

Painting C (1 column in semi-cursive script)

Peach blossoms, though fallen, scent their places of rest.
[Signed] Jieshan, the elderly, Baishi

落地桃花泥亦香。
借山老人白石

Painting D (1 column in semi-cursive script)

The wuzi year (1948). The elderly Baishi, aged 88, still away in the capital.

戊子。八十八歲白石老人尚客京華。

[Translations by Tina Liem in The Rustic Studio Collection of Chinese Paintings 陋室齋藏中國繪畫, Hong Kong: Rustic Studio Collection, 2019, cat. no. 3, p. 15.]


Artist’s seals

Benren 本人 [Painting A]
Xingzi Wu laomin 杏子塢老民 [Painting A]
Jieshanweng 借山翁 [Painting B]
Zhonghua liangmin ye 中華良民也 [Painting B]
Qi da 齊大 [Painting C]
Xingzi Wu min 杏子塢民 [Painting C]
Pingweng 萍翁 [Painting D]
Zuigongzhe chou 最工者愁 [Painting D]


Colophons

Luo Dunhuan 羅惇㬊 (1874-1954), in four script types on four separate sheets of paper, datable to 1948; 4 seals:

1. 8 columns in seal script followed by 2 columns in semi-cursive script, undated; 1 seal:

唯王二月既望霸辰十戊寅王各于師戲大室井伯仁右豆閉王乎内史冊命豆閉王曰閉易女織衣鄰木囗旅用囗乃且考吏。
《鄧閉敦》，孝孺臨。[印]：悉檀居士

2. 8 columns in semi-cursive script, undated; 1 seal:

白承舎内分連近豫遂就難喻痛濟理獻之白後面悲積莫欲以不往耿耿囗近動散委頓雖轉折猶囗然發止尚以未定日冀以言居力還不復耳。
復翁臨《真綵帖》。[印]：惇㬊

3. 8 columns in clerical script followed by 1 column in semi-cursive script, undated; 1 seal:

青龍三年，感靈墠之不饗，（思隆懿模，以紹）弈世，乃與（縣之）碩儒昭告祖考，（俾守厥祀），本支著宣融之祚，人神協體茂之慶（焉），循州部泰山從事史翟（邵）等，僉以為雖輝名載藉。
《范式碑》，囗囗臨。[印]：復堪七十歲後作

4. 8 columns in standard script followed by 1 column in semi-cursive script, datable to 1948; 1 seal:

二儀無像，四天傳則。
靈剝開神，梵堂啓或。
伊我君公，秉心淵默。
深睹正真，妙達通塞。
淹廽聖邇，寢息神光。
裁辯確實，離析奮章。
十塵外遣。
魏孫遼“浮圖銘記”

七十有五老人羅惇㬊臨四體書。[印]：復堪


Collector’s seal

Rongbao Zhai 榮寶齋
Rongbao Zhai shoucang 榮寶齋收藏 (on mounting)


Published references

The Rustic Studio Collection of Chinese Paintings 陋室齋藏中國繪畫, Hong Kong: Rustic Studio Collection, 2019, cat. no. 3, pp. 15–20.

Sotheby's, Hong Kong , October 27, 2003, lot 307; to Wadsworth; John S. Wadsworth Jr. and Bette Sue Wadsworth , 2003–presnet; promised gift to MMA