Who painted Admonitions Scroll?

Admonitions Scroll was painted by Gu Kaizhi.

Where can I see Admonitions Scroll?

Admonitions Scroll is held by British Museum.

What movement is Admonitions Scroll?

Admonitions Scroll is associated with Byzantine icon painting.

Artwork

Admonitions Scroll

Gu Kaizhi

Admonitions Scroll is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Gu Kaizhi. It is held in the collection of the British Museum.

About this work

Overview

The Admonitions Scroll is an ancient Chinese silk painting, traditionally attributed to Gu Kaizhi, though modern scholarship dates it to the 5th-8th century, possibly a copy of a Jin dynasty original. Now housed at the British Museum, it is one of the earliest surviving Chinese handscroll paintings.

Subject & Meaning

The scroll illustrates 'Admonitions of the Court Instructress', a 292 CE poetic text by Zhang Hua, aimed at reprimanding Empress Jia and advising imperial court women. Scenes depict exemplary historical palace ladies and aspects of palace life, conveying moral guidance.

Technique & Style

Executed on silk, the horizontal scroll features multiple scenes with figures in traditional attire against a light brown background, rendered in red, black, and white. The composition conveys a sense of dynamic interaction among the subjects.

History & Provenance

First recorded in the Northern Song dynasty (during Emperor Huizong's reign), the scroll passed through numerous collectors, including the Qianlong Emperor, before being acquired in 1899 after the Boxer Rebellion, ultimately entering the British Museum's collection.

Context

Created to address the behavior of women in the imperial court, the scroll reflects the societal values and political dynamics of its time, specifically the role of moral instruction for royal females.

Legacy

The Admonitions Scroll is renowned globally as one of the most famous and influential Chinese paintings, valued for its historical significance, artistic merit, and rarity as an early handscroll.