Scholar with Books in a Cave
Scholar with Books in a Cave
Scholar with Books in a Cave
Scholar with Books in a Cave

Currently not on view

Scholar with Books in a Cave,

undated

Chinese
late Ming dynasty to early Qing, 1644–1912, 1368–1644
y1947-239
As if seeking to escape from the cares of this world, a man sits under a flowering tree before a cave in which his books are piled on a low table. The setting is a secluded location with mountains and landforms painted in blue and green pigments. Gold outlines were added, highlighting the landscape’s ethereal nature. A signature added at a later date attributes this painting to Zhao Boju (ca. 1120–ca. 1162), a Song dynasty (960–1279) artist known for his blue-green landscapes.

Information

Title
Scholar with Books in a Cave
Dates

undated

Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
Painting: 156 x 47 cm. (61 7/16 x 18 1/2 in.) Mount: 237 x 61.5 cm. (93 5/16 x 24 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of DuBois Schanck Morris, Class of 1893
Object Number
y1947-239
Place Made

Asia, China

Signatures
signed: Zhao Boju (spurious)
Marks/Labels/Seals
Four characters in ink on label adhered to edge of rolled scroll; Four characters in ink on label adhered to silk bag
Culture
Chinese
Period
Ming, Qing
Type
paintings, chinese painting styles, scroll paintings, hanging scrolls
Subject
figures (representations), caves, trees, scholars, books, men, green (color), blue

1898 – ca. 1926 acquired in China by DuBois Schanck Morris (1873-1956), based in Anhui, China; 1947 gift to Princeton University Art Museum

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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

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