Portrait of Li T'ai-p'o

Maker Fu Yizhun (born 1934)

Date1978; 20th century

MediumHanging scroll: ink and colors on paper

DimensionsImage: 26 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches (67.3 x 45.1 cm)

CultureChina

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineAcquired through the Membership Purchase Fund

Terms

Paintings
Portrait
Scroll
Hanging scroll: ink and colors
Antiques
Autumn
Men
Poets
Scholars
Seasons
Trees
Wine vessels
Paper
Chinese

Object number80.067.001

Label CopyAccording to the inscription, the subject is the famous Tang dynasty poet Li Bo (701-762). Dressed in a flowing scholarly robe and a cap, he sits under a canopy of tree branches, holds a wine cup in one hand, and leans to one side with an elbow on a platform where we see a bronze wine vessel. The poet gazes languorously into space, perhaps inebriated. One of Li Bo's most famous poems is "Drinking Alone by Moonlight:" Here among flowers one flask of wine, With no close friends, I pour it alone. I lift cup to bright moon, beg its company, Then facing my shadow, we become three. The moon has never known how to drink; My shadow does nothing but follow me. But with moon and shadow as companions the while, This joy I find must catch spring while it's here. I sing, and the moon just lingers on; I dance, and my shadow flails wildly. When still sober we share friendship and pleasure, Then utterly drunk, each goes his own way- Let us join to roam beyond human cares And plan to meet far in the river of stars.

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