The Qing-dynasty artist and antiquarian Wen Ding mastered the arts of painting, calligraphy, and seal carving, and also assembled a fine collection of bronzes, stones, and other early Chinese cultural artifacts. He was likely inspired by the painting style of Wen Zhengming (1470−1559), from whom he was possibly a descendant, and the seal-carving techniques of Wen Peng (1498−1573; Wen Zhengming’s oldest son). This and three other paintings in LACMA’s collection (see M.74.92.1, M.74.92.2, and M.75.88.2) may originally have belonged to an album that included more images. As topographical landscapes of the famous Mount Yandang in Zhejiang Province, the album leaves provide faithful records of specific sites, although Wen Ding took some liberties by idealizing certain features. The names of scenic places are indicated with tiny labels, and the artist’s sense of humor is evident in the depictions of some of these locations. The set of paintings could have functioned as personal memorabilia or as advertisements for a spectacularly beautiful destination.
Like other album leaves in this set, Mountain and Village Scene with River and Two Bridges is depicted from a high vantage point, as if Wen Ding had been viewing the scene from a mountaintop. Several locations, such as Big Scissors and Big Dragon Waterfall on the right, echo with sites in the previous leaf (M.74.92.2). In the lower left corner is a boat-shaped rock called Stone Boat. A nearby temple is named Stone Boat Monastery. Most of the figures, including two sitting on a plateau, are depicted in poses very likely copied from the Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual, compiled and printed during the early Qing dynasty.
The inscription reads: “Wen Ding painted.” The seal reads: “Seal of Wen Ding.”
Wan Kong
2024