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[[stamp]] SMITHSONIAN. [[/stamp]] 150 

935. (Backhouse's No. A.) One Makimono, or Scroll Painting, by Chang Tse-tuan.
(Flourished about 1010 A. D.) Sung. Chinese

Painted on silk in colors — "Sacrifices to Ancestors at the Spring Festival."
A finely detailed composition which, at the beginning, illustrates a mountainous country through which a narrow stream winds its way. Here a man, in red garments, crosses a bridge to a highway traveled by many people and animals.
A few of the many trees are in blossom, and springtime effects prevail.
A second, and wider, stream now appears, and on it differing types of boats are seen — one boat, with its entire side exposed to view, is decorated with a bold scroll design in black. The stream passes by many houses, flows under a gracefully curved bridge through a great wall into a city where it gradually disappears; eventually it re-enters the city, joins other streams, and with them finally flows into the sea near a great wall, at the finish of the composition.
Many buildings and hundreds of people of various callings are represented in different vocations and pleasures.
Signature of the artist and four red seals at end of painting; one red seal at beginning.
Four manuscript colophons follow.
Compare with the copy of this painting by Ch'iu Ying, S. I. No. 152.
Length, 271½". Height, 11½".

Purchased from Edmund Backhouse, through T. J. Larkin, London, Voucher #13, Jan. 1915,
for £1000. less 20% — £600., plus express, $3.900.00 	

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-07-11 08:50:46