Description
The painting alludes to a legendary incident from the life of Ji Kang 嵇康 (AD 223–262), a guqin player who belonged to a group of 3rd-century eccentric intellectuals. Ji Kang is known as the author of a Guangling San (廣陵散; Melody from Guangling), a composition for the guqin so haunting that it aroused spirits to visit him. The painting depicts the moment when one of the spirits––disguised as a human––is helped by another to emerge from the ground, while others are drawn to the musician playing in his cottage under the full moon.
Provenance
(Howard C. Hollis [1899–1985], Cleveland, OH, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Leisy); Mr. Herbert F. [1900–1977] and Mrs. Helen Stamp Leisy [1906–1975], Cleveland, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?–1977); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1977–)
Accession Number
1977.199
Medium
hanging scroll; ink and light color on silk
Dimensions
Overall with knobs: 118 x 45 cm (46 7/16 x 17 11/16 in.); Painting: 35.8 x 29.1 cm (14 1/8 x 11 7/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
Gift of Herbert F. Leisy in memory of his wife, Helen Stamp Leisy
