Chinese silk painting ‘Ancient Landscape’, Yuan dynasty

A small painting in ink on silk on a frame of brocaded silk and paper.

The beautiful painting depicts a calm landscape amidst steep mountains, from which emerges a large leaning pine branch, behind which is hidden a building of traditional Chinese architecture.

The painting is signed in the upper right corner as ‘师马钦山笔’ ‘孙君泽’, next to a seal. Sun Junze (14th century) was a prominent painter during the Yuan dynasty, born in Hangzhou, who was renowned for his delicate traditional paintings of characters and landscapes influenced by the styles employed during the Ming dynasty. Three more seals are arranged in the lower corners of the painting.

At the top of the frame is a paper cartouche with inscriptions in ink, which refer to who may have been one of the owners of the painting ‘杨泊润’ ‘癸未秋日’. Yang Borun (1837 - 1911), was also an important artist of the Qing dynasty; a disciple of Dong Qichang, he was noted for his paintings and calligraphies now sold all over the world.  A short poem ‘楼屋断崖上，地窄，天水宽润，无限中’ is arranged next to the signature and seal.

In good condition, with age wear. Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368) or later. 

Size: 26.5 x 21 cm; Size with frame: 36.7 x 40 cm

Provenance:

· Private collection of He/Kwok Shing to the present day. With label indicating ‘Senhor He, Janeiro, 1977, Lisbon’. 

Attached certificate of antiquity made on 12 July 1969.