PaintingsChinese15th-16th century

Branch of Fruiting Grapes

15th-16th century

Description

In vertical format and painted in ink on paper, this hanging scroll depicts a fruiting grapevine. Two intertwined vines enter the composition from the top center; laden with lush, broad leaves and with heavy, ripe fruit, the vines hang downward, descending toward the bottom of the paper support, at which point one vine curves slightly upward and to the right, reaching almost to the painting’s right edge. Clusters of leaves at the vines' upper and lower portions partially obscure bunches of grapes that issue from the vines behind the leaves. Curling tendrils wrap around and radiate from ends of branches. The grapes and leaves were done in the “boneless manner,” meaning that they were achieved with well-controlled washes of ink but without outlines; by contrast, the vines, stems, and leaf veins were rendered with bold ink brushstrokes. The interplay between the soft ink washes and the energetic, calligraphic brushwork injects the composition with dynamism.

Classification

Paintings

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink on paper

Culture

Chinese

Period

Ming dynasty, 1368-1644

Century

15th-16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

painting proper: 123.2 x 36.4 cm (48 1/2 x 14 5/16 in.) mounting, including cord and bottom roller: 241.6 x 54 cm (95 1/8 x 21 1/4 in.)

Provenance

Chu-tsing Li, Lawrence, Kansas (by 2006-2012), gift; to his son B U.K. Li, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2012-2015), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2015. Footnotes: 1. Dr. Chu-tsing Li (1920-2014)