Travelling Scholar Crossing Bridge in Ming Dynasty Landscape Painting

A Chinese landscape painting, hanging scroll, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), 15th century Zhe school, Daijin school also known as Zhe school, Ming Dynasty, the painting depicts a travelling scholar-gentleman crossing a bridge at day's end, sitting astride his weary horse, his head turned back from where he has travelled, perhaps symbolising an air of nostalgia for days passed. He is followed closely by an attendant on foot carrying a jar of wine and a wrapped box of food. His destination is the rustic country house of a recluse scholar or artist. A peasant dressed in a red garment, stands expectantly at the gate. The food and drink being carried is to nourish a conversation far from the busy world. Two pine trees, possibly symbolising the two friends, dominate the foreground, the painting measuring 160 cm x 95 cm. Provenance: Purchased in 1992, from three Dynasties gallery, Kyoto, Ex Togendo collection, Japan. Other Notes: as a young man, the artist Daijin, Founder of the Zhe school, travelled to the Nanjing capital, with his father, where he failed to make a name for himself so returned home. Where his reputation grew such that c. 1425 he was recommended to the Xuande Emperor (r. 1425-35), and he went to Beijing in the hope of securing an academy appointment. His plans were thwarted, however, by the envy of the established painter Xie Huan (fl c. 1368-1435), a favourite artist and adviser to the Xuande Emperor, who claimed to detect anti-government bias in Dai's works. Xie took offence to Dai's depiction of a fisherman wearing a red coat, an attire suitable for officials, but certainly not for commoners. The Xuande Emperor agreed with Xie, and according to the scholar Lang Ying, the eunuch responsible for recommending Dai was executed. Dai, however, escaped at night to Hangzhou and returned to the Zhe academy afterwards. It is interesting to note that there is a commoner dressed in red in this work as well.