Wen Shun 渴純
(1764-1808)

“Ascending the Heights at Shiwu” 1802
石屋登高圖

Handscroll, ink and color on paper
34.2 x 140.0 cm. (13 1/2 x 55 1/8 in.)

Artist’s seals:
Shun chi yinxin; Chunmei; Mei shishuhuayin; Wen Shun zhi yin; Chun Zhongliegong wushi congsun; Wen Shun hua bing shi

Collector’s seal (of important Cantonese collector Deng Cangwu):
Deng shi Cangwu jiancang; Chunmei; Momiao lou

(For more information download PDF below)

Outer label:
“Ascending the Heights” done in 1802 by Wen Shun, born in the year 1764 of the Qianlong era, died in the year 1808 of the Jiaqing era.

Title slip:
“’Ascending the Heights at Shiwu.’ Inscribed by Wen Shun of Wuxing .” Seals: Zhonglie gong wu shi congsun (“Fifth-generation descendant of Duke Zhonglie”); Shun chi yin xin; Chunmei

Inscription:
“Two days after the ninth day of the ninth month of the year 1802. District Magistrate Juetang called together like-minded men at Shiwu. After a bit of drinking, we again ascended the heights. As usual, we used the rhyme of the Xitie (the Lanting rubbing), and when linked verses in five, six, and seven characters were done, we added a painting on the wall. As evening came on, I returned home and painted this scroll.

Shiwu is on a range halfway up Mount Penglai, where Tao Chenbai used a furnace to refine cinnabar. There is room for a table and stool, and inside one can hear the faint sound of a spring. Outside is a winding path bordered by clumps of green bamboo. Viewed from a distance it seems that people are walking on the bamboo. To the east is Mount Xiang at the foot of which offerings are made. To the west is Mount Pengmu, where there is a shrine dedicated to Pengzu. On the summit there are such sites as Jianzhangyan, Xianrenzhang. Juarenji, Qipinghen, and Suoyiyan as well as three Buddhist temples, erected by later people. Looking toward the sea over the mountains, they are countable one by one. Cliffs wall in the four sides, and blue-greenery is about to drip. Truly is this a greatly splendid view! Although I do not possess the brushwork of Li Sixun (of the Tang dynasty), I have drawn the three mountains above the sea. However, without a painting I could not have described it, and it does not matter if it resembles it or not. So I have just followed my memory of that superb time. Wen Shun called Chumei, painted and inscribed this.”