清 張熊 靈石 軸|Spiritual Stone
dated 1858
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
42 3/4 x 12 in. (108.6 x 30.5 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, in memory of La Ferne Hatfield Ellsworth, 1986
Accession Number
1986.267.37
Art Historical Context
In the heart of Qing dynasty China, artist Zhang Xiong crafted *Spiritual Stone* in 1858, a hanging scroll executed in ink on paper. Measuring 42 3/4 x 12 inches, this vertical composition exemplifies the literati painting tradition (wenrenhua), where-artists like Zhang emphasized personal expression through minimalist ink techniques. Hanging scrolls were prized for their ritual display, unrolled during gatherings to evoke contemplation and conversation. The titular "spiritual stone" (ling shi) depicts a fantastical gongshi—a porous, twisted rock revered in Chinese culture for its otherworldl...
About the Artist
Zhang Xiong · 1803–1886
Chinese, 1803–1886