Scholar Watching the Waterfall1764
In this hanging scroll, a scholar and his attendant contemplate a waterfall. A light breeze lifts the scholar’s robe and blows the tree leaves, suggesting movement. More about this work
About this work
In this hanging scroll, a scholar and his attendant contemplate a waterfall. A light breeze lifts the scholar’s robe and blows the tree leaves, suggesting movement. Luo Ping from Anhui province was orphaned after his family had moved to Yangzhou, but his talent was recognized by the salt merchant brothers Ma Yueguan (1688–1755) and Ma Yuelu (1697–after 1766), who introduced him to literati circles. His patrons' portraits are in CMA 1979.72 . Inspired by painter Jin Nong in his early career, Luo became known for his creative figure paintings, including ghosts. Scholar Watching a Waterfall was painted in his Yangzhou studio in the year of Jin’s death.
Text from the Cleveland Museum of Art.
How it was made
- Hanging scroll
- A painting mounted on silk with a wooden roller at the foot. It was rolled up for storage and brought out to hang for a season, a guest or an occasion.
- Ink on paper
- Ink made from soot and animal glue, ground with water on an inkstone. A single brush can give a hair-fine line or a broad wash, and nothing can be corrected.
Luo Ping
Chinese, 1733–1799
Chinese painting
Ink and colour on silk and paper, from imperial courts to scholars' retreats.
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The Cleveland Museum of Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 1975.95
- Credit
- Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
- Type
- Painting
- Department
- Chinese Art
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
Report this work
Close in colour
