Manner of Liu Du


19th century, Scholar and LadyInk and watercolour on silk, bearing signature and two red seals, framed and glazed.123.5cm (48 4/8in) long x 52cm (20 1/2in) wide.
|十九世紀 劉度（傳） 高士仕女 設色絹本 鏡框Provenance: an English private collectionThe painting is inscribed: '順治乙未秋日，背臨小李將軍大意, 錢塘劉度' which may be translated as 'At the year of Yiwei (1655) during the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, [I executed this painting] imitating the style of General Xiaoli (Li Zhaodao 李昭道, 675-758). By Liu Du of Qiantang (active 1630-1672).Li Zhaodao was the son of artist and General of the Left Li Sixun (李思訓, 653-718). Like his father, he also painted blue-and-green landscapes. He is sometimes therefore, known as Xiao Li (literally; 'little Li')'General Li the Younger'. He served as Secretary to the Heir Apparent. His painting 'Tang Minghuang's Journey to Shu' is particularly well known.