China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) / 1644
Xu Jingyang Moving His Family
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Xu Jingyang Moving His Family as painting (China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) · 1644).
Xu Jingyang, wearing red, is in the upper register of figures, while below his servants transport a rooster, dog, and other supplies.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk and credits Cui Zizhong (Chinese, 1574–1644).
The museum's collection notes: Xu Jingyang was a dedicated fourth-century Confucian official who allegedly turned into a Daoist immortal. This scroll depicts the legend that when he attained immortality, he took his entire household, including chickens and dogs, to paradise. Cui Zizhong’s painting style intentionally referenced ancient masters. Typical of the pre-Song dynasty landscape tradition, there is the use of blue and green colors and an emphasis on outline rather than texture. While the trembling outlines are reminiscent of earlier painters, the flickering light on rocks and trees is a stylistic feature of Cui’s own time.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtXu Jingyang Moving His FamilyOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.