Important Screen Depicting The Chinese Emperor Liu Heng

An important and rare screen depicting Emperor Liu Heng, also known as Wendi (posthumous name), who reigned from 203 BC to 180 BC, a reign of 23 years. The third emperor of the Western Han dynasty, he ushered in a prosperous period well-known in Chinese history. On this screen, Emperor Wendi is depicted seated, surrounded by his servants, in a pavilion opening onto a garden planted with a majestic and protective pine tree, seemingly encircling the emperor with its branches. Behind the emperor, a similar screen presents a waterfall. Foreign emissaries offer him a horse capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day. The emperor refuses this gift and reimburses their travel expenses. Entirely painted in ink and polychrome on paper with blown gold highlights, the figures are rendered with great finesse in the expression of their faces, costumes, and floral decorations. Framed in black lacquered wood. Adorned with gilt copper fittings depicting scrolling foliage and the Tokugawa family crest. On the back of this screen, a large calligraphy reads: "Written by the elderly Zen monk of the Rinzai sect, Yatsuhashiyama Hōgan (1760-1828), also a renowned tea master," with a red lacquer seal (Soei) and two other red lacquer seals. The calligraphy recounts the story depicted here in detail, according to the Hanshu (the Han Classic). Origin: Japan, Edo period (1603-1868), late 18th century. Kanō school. Dimensions: W205 x H168 x D60 cm.