The "Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup" as described by the Tang poet Du Fu (712-770) in the poem "Ode of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup". Ink and colour on silk. Inscription and three seals. With silk mounting, framed and glazed. Translation of
Description The "Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup" as described by the Tang poet Du Fu (712-770) in the poem "Ode of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup". Ink and colour on silk. Inscription and three seals. With silk mounting, framed and glazed. Translation of the inscription: ‘Ode to the eight immortals of the wine cup’ [He] Zhizhang sways on his horse as though on a boat; with dazzled eyes he falls into the watery depths of sleep. [The king of] Ruyang sets off to court after downing three measures [of wine]; passing a handcart barrel his mouth waters; he regrets that his kingdom does not flow with wine. The Premier [Li Shizhi] spends ten thousand cash each day [on drink]; his imbibing matches the great whale’s gulping down of the hundred streams; holding the wine cup, joyous sage, he calls himself ‘avoider of the worthy’. [Cui] Zongzhi, light-hearted and carefree, handsome young master, raising the wine cup, his white eyes look toward the clear sky, he sways like a jade tree in the wind. Su Jin has long been a vegetarian before the embroidered Buddha; when inebriated he often offends against the deity. Li Bai drinks one measure [of wine] and writes a hundred poems; he sleeps in a wine shop in Chang’an market; even if the emperor himself should come [to invite him], he would not board [the imperial] barque. He styles himself ‘an immortal of the wine cup’. Zhang Xu with three cups [of wine] is the master of cursive style; he takes his hat off baring the crown of his head to nobles; he takes up his brush writes on the paper like a fleeting cloud. Jiao Sui is never so acute as after five measures of wine; his vivacious eloquence startles all those within the four walls.
Dimensions 176 x 50 cm
Artist or Maker Unidentified artist . Qing dynasty
Notes VAT: Margin scheme