Herd of Deer in a Maple Grove
Anonymous, Five Dynasties Period (907-960)
Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk
118.5 x 64.6 cm
(on display 10/10-11/20)
The subject here is a herd of deer in a forest (of what are actually birch trees) during autumn. This is quite rare in native Chinese painting but is more often seen in the art of the Khitans in the Liao dynasty to China’s north. In fact, a Liao ruler in the 10th century once presented to the Chinese Sung court a work entitled “Deer of a Thousand Antlers”. The painting here and “Herd of Deer in an Autumnal Grove” also in the Museum collection may have once formed part of that work. In terms of Chinese painting, the technique is quite unique and exotic, especially the ornamental coloring and the dense arrangement. Judging from the Kuei-chang and T’ien-li seals, this work was also once part of the Yuan imperial collection. This not only this reflects its importance to the court at the time, but it also suggests an appreciation of other artistic traditions.