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Any help with identification would be greatly appreciated - Johnnie

Fascinating painting, with what appears to be a gigantic illuminated lampshade growing in the middle of the forrest.

This seems to be one of those iconic landscapes that every Chinese artist must paint (or copy) at some point in their career, if my web check is any "tip of the iceberg" indication. The elevated title, on the left side of the inscription, reads down as 松壑鳴泉 (song he (or huo on Taiwan) ming quan), translatable as "Pines in the gullies cry out to the streams". The middle line says 戊辰初冬月 (wu chen chu dong yue), a cyclical date of "beginning of winter 1988" (or 1928 or an earlier date among the preceding 60-year intervals).

I'm not certain about the first character, but the last line looks to read 廩山靜為寫 (Lin shan jing wei xie), which if right would probably mean "At Granary Mountain the quiet was sufficient for sketching". Another possibility for the initial character would be 廈 (Xia), meaning "Mansion" or an abbreviation for "Xiamen" (Amoy) on the coast of Fujian Province. Another possibility is 廋 (sou), meaning "Concealed".

I look forward to Rat's comments on the art itself, and hope Super will improve my translation.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thanks Bill H. - looking forward to hearing what others say as to who the artist might be. Sorry for the lamp showing up in the reflection of the glass.

Again many thanks, Johnnie

I agree with Bill's translations regarding the title of the painting and the possible time it was done.

However, I believe the last column of Chinese characters (right to the red chop mark) may give clue to the name of the artist. The last character is 寫,usually means written by, but in this case means painted by. The first 2 (or may be 3?)characters is probably the name of a mountain. I have never seen a Chinese character like the first one, therefore could not identify the exact mountain. The next two characters, 靜為 I believe may be the given name of a Buddhist monk who lives in the mountain (above his name). It was not unusual for an artist to write down where he lives (or from) above his name.

The only other interpretation is the top four characters may represent the name of a Japanese artist since the other art posted by the poster was that of a Japanese one.

Of course, I cannot know for sure. May be rat can share his opinions with us since he does know about Chinese arts than most of us.

If mikeoz will be kind enough to translate the two characters in the chop market to see if they are that of 靜為, that may confirm the name of the artist. Thanks. Super

Super, thanks greatly for the help. I did some more digging and wonder if that last line might begin with the character 虞 (Yu), which is a surname and also figures into temple and place names, including mountains, named for the Emperor Shun (Di Shun - 帝舜), a.k.a. "Yu the Great" (Da Shun - 大舜) or "Yu Shun" (虞舜), whose Wikipedia page says he ruled over the State of Yu circa 2294-2184 BCE. There are mountains named for his in the Suzhou suburbs and at Guilin.

I consulted a Chinese Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and couldn't find 靜 used with any of the historical names mentioned, though it figures in a host of terms related to meditation and solitude. I'm sure it must be used in plenty of given names, but the characters 虞山靜 only came up in the context of the mountain so named.

Much obliged,

Bill H.

Agree with Super's thoughts on the artist's name, preceded by his hometown, as being the likely content of the second line. The location name is Yushan 虞山, i.e., Changshu in Jiangsu Province. There is a "school" of painting associated with the term but its members include the four Wangs of the 17th century (Wang Hui, Wang Jian, Wang Shimin, Wang Yuanqi), who collectively became the basis of orthodox Qing landscape style, and the "Yushan school" seems not to have a continuing lineage of its own independent of them.

I don't see anyone listed using the name 静爲. The seal impression seems to show other characters that Mikeoz is superior at reading. The second one is possibly 良, but I cannot read the first.

Johnnie, what are the dimensions of this picture?

Hello Rat - Thank you for your help!!!

The size of the painting is just over 11 1/2 inches wide by 14 inches tall. I looks like it is painted on silk.

Again many thanks - to all. - Johnnie

Sorry for the lamp showing up in the reflection of the glass.

Hope you help further identify -

Many thanks, Johnnie

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