His great grandfather Ma Fen served as painter in attendance at the Northern Song court in early 12th century, and both his grandfather Ma Xingzu and his father Ma Shirong held the same position at the Southern Song court in Hangzhou.
Composing Poetry on a Spring Outing, attributed to Ma Yuan, Southern Song Dynasty, Handscroll, ink, and color on silk, 29.54 x 301.63 cm, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
At some point after 1189, Ma Yuan received the same position under Emperor Guangzong. He evidently enjoyed a high reputation at the court and was a favorite of Emperor Ningzong (who wrote several poems inspired by Ma Yuan’s paintings); but nothing more is known about his life. He died in 1225.
Attributed to Ma Yuan. GENTLEMAN VIEWING THE MOON. 1200/1300
His son, Ma Lin, who rose to the rank of painter-in-waiting, was the last painter in the family.
In this painting, an adept (xian) flies through the air on the back of a dragon. At the lower right, a demon thrall holds his master’s dragoon-headed staff. The scene takes place against a background of clouds, from which the dragon has just emerged. The transcendent gazes into space with an intense, knowing expression. Southern Song Dynasty, early 13th century. hanging scroll; ink and light colors on silk
Although a very versatile painter, Ma is known today primarily for his landscape scrolls. His technique, like that of many contemporaries, was at first inspired by Li Tang. Eventually, Ma developed a personal style, with marked decorative elements (“pine trees […] strong as if they were made of iron wire”, as described in a contemporary source).
Landscape attributed to Ma Yuan, MOA Museum of Art, Itami, Shizuoka, Japan. Southern Song (1127-1279)
A characteristic feature of many paintings is the so-called “one-corner” composition, in which the actual subjects of the painting are pushed to a corner or aside, leaving the other part of the painting more or less empty. [wikipedia]
Dancing and Singing (Peasants Returning from Work) (detail). 1160-1225. ink on silk
Dancing and Singing (Peasants Returning from Work) (detail). 1160-1225. ink on silk
Dancing and Singing (Peasants Returning from Work) (detail). 1160-1225. ink on silk
Dancing and Singing(Peasants Returning from Work). 1160-1225. ink on silk
Scholar by a Waterfall, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), late 12th–early 13th century. Ma Yuan (Chinese, active ca. 1190–1225) Album leaf: ink and color on silk; 9 7/8 x 10 1/4 in. (25.1 x 26 cm) Signed: “Servitor, Ma Yuan”
Clouds Rising from the Green Sea, from a series of paintings of water. 1160-1225. ink on silk – 水圖卷﹝局部
Ten Thousand Riplets on the Yangzi, from a series of paintings of water. 水圖卷﹝局部. 1160-1225. ink on silk
The Waving Surface of the Autumn Flood, from a series of paintings of water. 水圖卷﹝局部. 1160-1225. ink on silk
The Yellow River Breaches its Course, from a series of paintings of water. 水圖卷﹝局部. 1160-1225. ink on silk
Walking on Path in Spring by Ma Yuan (马远 c.1190 – 1279年）), a Chinese painter of the Song Dynasty. [宋] 马远 山径春行图 – 绢本淡设色.
Banquet by Lantern Light – hanging scroll, ink and color on silk, 111.9 x 53.5 cm. Located at the National Palace Museum, Taibei. The poem at the top was either written by Emperor Ningzong (寧宗) or Empress Yang to celebrate a banquet. 华灯侍宴图 – 立轴 绢本 淡设色
Banquet by Lantern Light – hanging scroll, ink and color on silk, 111.9 x 53.5 cm. Located at the National Palace Museum, Taibei. The poem at the top was either written by Emperor Ningzong (寧宗) or Empress Yang to celebrate a banquet. circa 1198－1201年
Confucius (孔丘圖), ink and color on silk. 27.7 cm. high x 23.3 cm. wide. Located in the Palace Museum, Beijing (北京 故宫博物院). 12th century, Southern Song Dynasty
CHINA-UNDERGROUND. Matteo Damiani is an Italian sinologist, photographer, author and motion designer. Matteo lived and worked for ten years in China. Founder of CinaOggi.it and China-underground.com.
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