Five Horses (Full Scroll) on Paper 26.9cm x 204.5
Li Gonglin’s scroll depicts five tribute horses from Central Asia, each led by a foreign groom, presented as gifts to the Song Emperor. The artist used his signature refined ink lines to capture the muscular build and unique coat of each horse, from spotted to solid grey. It’s like a diplomatic photo album from the 11th century. The calligraphy inscriptions, likely by his friend Huang Tingjian, name the horses, while the myriad red seals show it has been passed down by emperors and collectors for nearly a millennium.
- Technique
- Ink on paper
- Material
- Paper
- Dimensions
- 26.9 cm x 204.5 cm