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Wen Shun (1764-1808) 渴純

Ascending the Heights at Shiwu 1802 石屋登高図

Handscroll, ink & color on paper
34.2 x 140 cm. (13 1/2 x 55 1/8 in.)

Title slip:
By Wen Shun, the artist

Artist’s seals:
Shun chi yinxin; Chunmei; Zhongliegong wushi congsun

Collector’s seal (of famous Cantonese collector Deng Cangwu):
Deng shi cangwu jiancang

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 half way up Mount Fenglai, 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 Chienzhangyan,
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 Chunmei, painted and inscribed
this.”

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