CATALOGUE 2024
QING DYNASTY, 18TH TO 19TH CENTURY
LENGTH: 31CM
The natural dark grey stone has a horizontal composition
featuring cresting peaks of various heights. The tallest peak
on the far left dynamically arches inward, framing a central
cavernous section and other craggy outcrops. The surface
of the rock with typical concentrically swirling wrinkles
accentuated by lighter striations and occasional russet
patches. The lower right corner of the stone is signed
followed by a square seal reading Li Chen 李臣 . The stone
rests on four points on a tiered hongmu stand bearing
several inscriptions, including the title of the rock reading
Yuyue yunyan 雨嶽雲巖 (“Rainy Marchmount Cloudy
Cliffs”) and a poetic inscription, signed with a collector’s
mark reading 兆洛 followed by his seal reading 李 .
The wood stand bears the title of the rock reading:
| 雨嶽雲巗 | Rainy Marchmount Cloudy Cliffs |
followed by a poetic inscription reading:
| 清景持芳菊 | This clear scene is sustained by fragrant chrysanthemums, |
| 凉天倚茂松 | its cool weather dependent on dense pines, |
| 名山何必去 | so why must one go to some famous mountain, |
| 此地有群峰 | for many mountain peaks are right here! |
The poem is taken from “Ti Luofu shi” 題羅浮石 (Inscribed
on Luofu Rock) by Li Deyu 李 徳 裕 (787-850); see Quan
Tangshi 全唐詩 (Complete Verse of the Tang), Beijing,
1979, 475:5395.
Li Zhaoluo 李兆洛 (1769-1841), personal names Shenqi
紳琦 and Shenqi 申耆 , sobriquet Yanyi 養一 , was a
native of Yanghu 陽湖 , Jiangsu. The most important
contribution of Li Zhaoluo in geography was a dictionary
of place names, entitled Lidai dilizhi yubian jinshi
歷代地理志韻編今釋 (Geography Treatises Throughout
the Ages with Current Explanations Arranged According
to Rhyme), in 20 fascicles, completed in 1837, which was
followed by several associated works which expanded
content. Li’s collected literary works, Li Yangyi xiansheng
wenji 李養一先生文集 (Collected Works of Master Li
Yangyi) in 24 fascicles, were first printed in 1852. Having
a keen interest in literature, Li Zhaoluo compiled several
anthologies of prose and verse: Pianti wenchao 駢體文鈔
(Anthology of Parallel Prose), Huangchao wendian
皇朝文典 (Models of Prose from Our August Dynasty),
Jiuyan ji 舊言集 (Axiomatic Anecdotes), among others.
As a calligrapher, he published collections of rubbings:
Suojian tie 所見帖 (Models of Calligraphy Seen) and a
sequel, Suojiantie xuke 所見帖續刻 (Models of Calligraphy
Seen, Supplemented), both printed in 1834. He also
edited and printed the collected works of earlier and
contemporary scholars: Fang Haiwei xiansheng wenji 方
孩未先生文集of Fang Zhenru 方震孺 (1585-1645), Qu
Shisi 瞿式耜 (1590-1651), and the writings of two sons of
Hong Liangji 洪亮吉 (1746-1809). He also edited works
by contemporary scholars, including Liu Fenglu’s 劉逢錄
(1776-1829) study of the Gongyang commentary to the
Spring and Autumn Annals.
PROVENANCE
Collection of Li Zhaoluo 李兆洛 (1769-1841)
| 清十八至十九世紀 | 祁連石「雨嶽雲巖」 |
| 「李兆洛」款「李臣」印 |
