Scroll Painting Item Number: 3065/19 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Long, vertical scroll with an ink painting of a nature scene. On brown paper are painted several trees standing at various elevations on the side of mountain, the peak of which can be seen in the distance at the top of the scroll. Amongst the trees are small houses and structures. An elderly man walks along a path at the bottom left of the picture. Five lines of Chinese script are at the top left, as well as two red stamps, with several red stamps also located on the bottom left. The painting is mounted on a larger piece of silk fronted paper in a light cream colour. A small strip of wood lines the top of the work, with a silk hanging string attached and a large decorative wooden dowel is attached at bottom. On the rear top right is a strip of tape with painted Chinese characters.

Narrative

The scroll is signed Shen Zhou (1427-1509), a master from the Ming dynasty, however the work has not been authenticated and may be a copy made by a later artist.