An immensely historical painting popularly translated into English as “Along The River During the Qingming Festival” pre-dates Claude Monet’s “Garden of the Princess” by more than seven centuries.

The latter was painted in 1867 whilst the ancient Chinese cityscape was painted during the 12th Century by Zhang Zeduan – if we choose to use the Gregorian calendar as a reference point.

Both paintings are truly beautiful works of art.  They provide us with a busy cityscape using a panoramic view referencing capital cities during the time of their creation.  Each painting gifts us with a window into the lives, the ergonomic structures and customs of the people we see.

Monet is seated by permission to focus on the Quai de Louvre and Left Bank in Paris.  Zhang Zeduan is likewise granted to carry out his important artistic commission centuries earlier.

The man is asked to stand at a gate to carry out his work by specific request.  Monet paints from a balcony of the Louvre itself overlooking the scene below.  Intriguing artistic similarities.  Immediately Monet’s painting sprung to my mind when I studied the original Qingming Festival painting from the 12th Century.

Edouard Manet and Renoir too.  Indeed, it’s true that Monet admired Oriental art although his style is clearly European.  All great artists draw inspiration from past and present Masters.  Chinese Master artist Qi Baishi is notably humble in his praise of his favourite Chinese painters.

Bianjing now modern Kaifeng in China was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960 – 1127) some thousand years after the Romans had begun establishing Londinium as the new capital of Brittannia.  In doing so the Romans replaced the settlement at Camulodunum for what we now know as London over Colchester in England respectively.

The original Chinese painting by Zhang Zeduan has extraordinary value wrapped up in its scrolls through its past ownership, cultural influence and endearment to Chinese art throughout the proceeding centuries.  A reverence that has inspired newly stylised remakes of the original for important occasions since.

Among these fine art remakes is an expert version presented to Emperor Qianlong in 1737.  The remake is updated only to reflect 18th century culture whilst remaining faithful in composition to the original.

Convergence, divergence and intransigence is intrinsically valuable to the ongoing cultural heritage of World Art.

Let us please take a considered look at “Along The River During the Qingming Festival”.  Respectfully appreciating that a language may be translated in various ways.  For a certainty, choosing a popular title for an artwork is wise.  Zhang Zeduan excels completely in his use of movement, detail, structuring and artistry.

The original painted scroll above measures five and a quarter metres across and ten inches high so it is difficult to imagine its impressive visual scale.  Especially as most Readers will view this image using a modest electronic device.

A large scale animated digital screen artwork has been produced incorporating the original and displayed in the China Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010. 

This can be viewed by clicking here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-AVzwui5-5w and for a closer view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbzQ-JPlc9g

The animation is astonishingly rendered and helps to capture the affection in which the original painting is held.

I love both these paintings.  Zeduan painted fashionably of his day according to Chinese artistic style and tradition.  We see this Chinese style consistently throughout the following centuries up to and beyond Monet.  Beloved themes embraced like fruit bowls upon tables.

Just as Monet himself contributed to modern Impressionistic Art, Zeduan has greatly influenced Asia’s contemporary artists.  It’s wonderful to see artists around the world gaining inspiration from world art.

I have seen the influence of artists like Qi Baishi in the artistic style of living painters on the other side of the globe.  Professional Artists whose excellent work I’ve viewed up close and personal in art galleries.

I would like to include Monet’s “Garden of the Princess” in this Blog since we have discussed this painting also.

Here it is:

Garden of the Princess by Claude Monet

It has been a joy to write my Blog once again.

Matt The Unfathomable Artist