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1295.  One Makimono or Serell Painting, attributed to Li Lung-mien (also known as Li Kung-lin).
Sung. Chinese.
(Ri-riu-min - Japanese name.)

[[stamp]] SMITHSONIAN [[/stamp]] 184

Painted on paper, in ink.
A long and continuous, imaginary landscape including rocky islands, through which many sages and celestial figures appear.  Wide, flat rock-ledges and paths, follow along the edge of the water, and wind about tall, elemental peaks and rock cliffs.  Near the beginning, delicate plum trees are seen, and celestial maidens descent from heaven on clouds.  Following the scene further on comes to a pavilion where sages gather to contemplate a distant waterfall.  On the opposite shore a hermit is seen drawing water in a bucket to sprinkle on his garden.  Beyond the next plateau and distant rice fields, a second bridge is introduced, with weeping willows and black persimmon trees standing like sentinals on either bank. Near the center of the scroll a temple rises out of clouds, amid tall sprie-like peaks and a group of black pines; above the temple an ancient sage is seen standing upon a cloud. Next, a terrace is shown, fenced with bamboo railings and peopled with many figures walking towards a lotus pool and a tall, sacred tree enclosed within a high wooden paling [[good guess?]]. Among further mountains a procession of heavenly musicians and a goddess descent upon clouds, and at the edge of the bank in the foreground near three standing women, two half naked nature sprites appear, carrying a leafless branch and a canopy, from both of which hang many trinkets. Near the end of the scroll, two fairies approach through the air, one of them riding a phoenix and the other, a heron. At the end, three silvery mountains lift their rounded peaks above pale mist and pine trees. Paper warm pinkish tone, with many small breaks and restorations. 
Without signature, six [[good guess?]] seals at end of painting and one just beyond, on mount. Three seals at beginning. 
Label on mount at upper left of painting and also the one on outside of scroll, attribute this painting to Li Lung-mien.
Large charactored inscription precedes painting, and long one on white paper follows it.
Length, 373 1/4"; height, 16 3/8".

Purchased from K.T. Wong of Shanghai, at New York,
Special Voucher #29 January, 1918, 2,150.00

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-09 15:30:31 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-10 06:06:34 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-10 13:02:28