Portrait of a Daoist Immortal14th centuryImage: 40 1/2 x 16 1/4 inches (102.9 x 41.3 cm)Hanging scroll: ink and slight colors on silkGift of Pamela Clement, Class of 197682.095.0010A Daoist immortal, Li Tieguai, is depicted as a tatter-robed beggar carrying a bottle-gourd and holding an iron crutch. He sits on a chiseled rock and gazes towards his spirit which is being carried off to the sky by a stream of vapor. The forceful expression and bulging eyes are typical features in the work of Yan Hui, a 14th century painter who is known to have painted this subject. The undulating contours and fluttering folds of the robe recall the brushwork of Wu Daozi (ca. 690-after 758). A seal on the upper right side reads "Autumn Moon" (qiu yue), which is a style-name of Yan Hui. This work may be a copy by Yan's follower.Paintings21400916277China