Lot 209

As viewed, possible fading consistent with age


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Purchased in 1992, from Three Dynasties gallery, Kyoto; Ex Togendo Collection, Japan

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.