Abstract:
Zizhong County Museum in Neijiang houses a large vertical central scroll of Chinese calligraphy of running script by ZHANG Daqian. On the scroll, there is a five-character poem titled
Linghua Jingshui Qiu (
Reflections of Autumn Flowers of Water Caltrop in the Mirror-like Waters). ZHANG incorporates the features of seal script and clerical script into running script in this calligraphy piece which, with a dynamic and vigorous style, projects an open and unrestrained aura. It is a masterpiece of ZHANG’s large-scale calligraphy preserved by museums in China. Investigation reveals that the poem is related to three paintings which are
Ni Qingxiang Laoren Shanshui (
In the Style of Master Qingxiang’s Landscape),
Liuan Qingzhou (
A Light Boat near the Willow Bank), and
Xiyang Guixing (
Sunset Return). The paintings provide deeper insights into
Linghua Jingshui Qiu, and supplement research on ZHANG’s artistic life.