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Hi,

Hoping someone is able to help shed some light on this scroll. Specifically,

- translation of the text and what the scene is about
- translation of the seals and identification of the artist(s)
- the text on the picture looks quite different to that of the left panel (was it perhaps a later addition by someone other than the artist?)
- any idea about the meaning/purpose of the right panel (scattering of gold flakes?)
- the medium used (oil?)

Any details would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Willet

(See replies for more photos)

Photos

More photos - close ups of seals, right panel and some text on the outside of the scroll which shows when rolled up.

Title,
清和早朝圖　-　Picture of quiet and peaceful early morning
Date,
康熙辰仲夏　- In Mid-Summer of Kangxi Dragon Year
(1700 or 1712)
Signature,
吉臣　冷枚　 - Jichen (Courtesy name) Leng Mei (Surname and given name)

On the attached part there are two appreciations;
1, By Qiang Guozhong 強國忠　- Painter of the same period
2, By Cao Riying 曹日瑛　- Official of Hanlin Academy and noted calligrapher of the time

Leng Mei 冷枚　（appr. 1670-1742)
Court painter under Kangxi emperor of the early Qing dynasty. Courtesy name Jichen, native of Jiaozhou (Shandong). Studied painting from Jiao Bingzhen. Was good at painting figures, ladies, landscapes, flowers and birds.

Romanized Inscription on mounting; Tsen Len Me
is a transliteration of Qin (Dynasty) Len Mei
Two characters 年間... Years of....

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thanks @I.Nagy - much appreciated!

Regards,
Willet

This is a forgery describing itself as a painting by Leng Mei of the "morning gathering at court (of emperor and officials) in ~May (fourth lunar month)". The main figure seems to be wearing civil service garb. The attached inscriptions are intended to be colophons that later owners of the scroll or their friends wrote and were attached by a mounter. Similarly the gold-flecked paper preceding the picture is mounted with the picture and intended to be filled in by a calligrapher at the owner's invitation with a descriptive title for the picture. Here the title is written next to the supposed signature line, which was never done. The colophons may to have been written by the same person, employing two slightly different script types. Not sure what the title slip on the outside was intended to read. Leng Mei's actual works look like this:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_Rabbits_under_Chinese_Parasol_Tree_by_Leng_Mei.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leng_Mei#/media/File:Leng_Mei_-_Figures_-_Spring_Evening_Banquet.jpg
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/fine-classical-chinese-paintings-n09117/lot.574.html

Thanks for the info @rat. Very interesting to hear your claim of forgery.

Regards,
Willet

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