241: QING PERIOD CHINESE PAINTING OF SCHOLAR AND FAMILY

In a secluded garden surrounded by hills and water, a gentleman sits in front of a screen accompanied by five boys and three women. The style of the man’s robe and the black gauze cap suggests that he may be a government official. The beautiful garden filled with a lotus pond, potted plants, and exquisite furniture indicate the man’s wealth. In the background and the hands of the human figures are a zither, a brush, books, and playing pieces and a board for the weiqi game, objects that signify the cultivation of their owners. The boys are likely the man’s children and the women his wives or attendants. Showing male heirs and prosperity gained through service to the state, the picture depicts the common wishes of those who lived in imperial China.
Measures 27 x 63 inches, 31.75 x 68 inches overall.
Very good condition, framed as a painted panel, originally a hanging scroll.
$500 - $700