
Painting study · Ink painting
Squirrel on a Pine Branch1500s · Study 2015.498
Song Tian (Chinese, active 1300s)
1500s
Recorded as hanging scroll, ink on paper, this horizontal work measures 51.7 × 27.7 cm using the museum’s painting only dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
This painting captures a squirrel in action, distracted and twisting its head while climbing and looking at a little bug to the right. The painter skillfully employs a combination of ink washes and fine brushstrokes to simulate the animal’s fur. Only three simple curved lines depict the squirrel’s claws. The subject of squirrels did not appear in Chinese painting before the late Southern Song (1127–1279) and Yuan periods (1279–1368). The painter Songtian was one of the few Yuan painters who specialized in this theme.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
Although the evergreen pine does not indicate a time of year, the lively activity of the squirrel and the insect suggest a warm season.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected painting only measurement for Squirrel on a Pine Branch is 51.7 cm wide and 27.7 cm high, equivalent to approximately 20.4 × 10.9 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.87:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.14 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 17.2% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 124.2 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 Squirrel on a Pine Branch 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 paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 51.7 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?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bipolar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Brick and Mortar | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
| Dominion | 60 × 48 in | 1.25:1 | $3,499 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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