Clouds Visiting a Mountain Retreat1633 · Study 1971.19

Context from the museum

Little is known about Tao Hong who settled in Nanking in the latter part of his life. His son was a friend of the leading Nanjing school artist Gong Xian (on display nearby). When the Ming dynasty collapsed in 1644, Tao joined the loyalist resistance in Yunnan province. By 1645 the Manchu invaders had defeated the Yunnanese forces, prompting Tao to flee to Burma, where he died shortly thereafter. Only five of Tao Hong’s works are known to exist, of which this painting is the largest.

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

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting measurement for Clouds Visiting a Mountain Retreat is 101 cm wide and 176.4 cm high, equivalent to approximately 39.8 × 69.4 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.57:1. The rectangular bounding area is 1.78 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 33.7% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 99.5 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 Clouds Visiting a Mountain Retreat in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 101 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?