Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 11200s · Study 2004.1.1

Context from the museum

Leaf 1 portrays one of the three supreme deities in the Daoist religion. Dressed in a garment and hat similar to that of an earthly emperor, this heavenly being holds a tablet in a posture also reminiscent of a mortal ruler. He is shaded by a pair of fans, surrounded by female consorts and their maidens, and attended by ministerlike figures on both sides. Again, as seen in the mundane world, two guards holding weapons stand immediately in front of and below the platform that supports this majestic figure. Despite the symmetry and hierarchical composition, the whole scene comes alive in a wonderful sense of clarity and subtlety. Sketched in fine lines and evincing a wonderful sense of flow, especially in the draperies, the figural group is fully integrated in an architectural setting that is just as exquisite.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

A pot of purple crepe myrtle blossoms ( ziwei 紫微) is directly before the Ziwei Emperor 紫微大帝.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting measurement for Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 1 is 38.5 cm wide and 34.3 cm high, equivalent to approximately 15.2 × 13.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.12:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.13 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 12.8% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 130.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 1 in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Album; ink on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 38.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?