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Grooming an elephant

Asian Art Museum

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International media Interoperability Framework
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Object Details

Artist

Attributed to Cui Zizhong (died 1644)
Formerly attributed to Yan Liben (ca. 600-674)

Provenance

To 1916
Pang Yuanji (1864-1949), Shanghai, China, to 1916 [1]
From 1916 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Pang Yuanji, through Pang Zanchen (1881-1951) and Seaouke Yue (You Xiaoxi) (late 19th-early 20th century), in New York, in 1916 [2]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
Notes:
[1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 1119, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. See also, P'ang Catalogue: Antique Famous Chinese Paintings Collected by P'ang Lai Ch'en, vol. 1, no. 1. This object exhibits seals, colophons, or inscriptions that could provide additional information regarding the object’s history; see Curatorial Remarks in the object record for further details.
[2] According to Ingrid Larsen, "'Don’t Send Ming or Later Pictures': Charles Lang Freer and the First Major Collection of Chinese Painting in an American Museum," Ars Orientalis vol. 40 (2011), pg. 23 and pg. 37, note 118.
Larsen explains that Pang Zanchen (the younger brother of Pang Yuanji) and Seaouke Yue were tasked by Pang Yuanji with bringing his paintings to New York to show them to Charles Lang Freer. See also, Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 1119, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Collection

Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Exhibition History

Buddhist Art (May 9, 1993 to August 9, 2011)
Chinese Figure Painting (September 17, 1973 to January 3, 1975)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Ceramics (March 7, 1957 to January 1, 1963)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork and Painting, East Corridor (February 15, 1955 to August 26, 1955)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting, Gallery 1, 1955 (April 11, 1955 to December 12, 1955)
Untitled Exhibition, East Asian Ceramics and Paintings, East Corridor (January 8, 1947 to ---)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1946 (May 6, 1946 to November 17, 1955)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, 1943 (October 4, 1943 to August 7, 1946)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting, Gallery 14, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to October 4, 1943)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Paintings, 1924 (June 2, 1924 to March 14, 1931)
Chinese Panels and Scrolls (May 2, 1923 to June 2, 1924)
Chinese Painting and Pottery (May 2, 1923 to March 22, 1943)

Previous custodian or owner

Pang Yuanji 龐元濟 (1864-1949) (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Date

early to mid-17th century

Period

Ming dynasty

Accession Number

F1916.520

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Painting

Medium

Ink and color on satin

Dimensions

H x W: 124.3 x 52.1 cm (48 15/16 x 20 1/2 in)

Origin

China

Related Online Resources

Google Arts & Culture

See more items in

National Museum of Asian Art

Data Source

National Museum of Asian Art

Topic

elephant
Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)
China
Chinese Art
Charles Lang Freer collection

Metadata Usage

Usage conditions apply

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3d3d5319d-3404-4ac8-b8db-742a3823c3ae

Record ID

fsg_F1916.520

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