Bidspirit auction | Secluded Dwelling by a River

Secluded Dwelling by a River Village, by Xi Gang - Xi Gang (1746-1803), originally named Gang, with courtesy names Tiesheng and Chunzhang, and art names such as Luokan and Dieyezi, was a native of She County (now part of Anhui Province) who resided by the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. A master of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, Xi Gang excelled in various calligraphic styles, including seal script, clerical script, running script, and cursive script. His regular script was influenced by Chu Suiliang, while his ancient clerical script exhibited exceptional elegance and freedom. In painting, he specialized in landscapes, flowers, orchids, and bamboo, developing a refined, unrestrained, and lucid style. His seal carving, rooted in the Qin and Han traditions, drew inspiration from Ding Jing while incorporating innovative developments. As one of the ”Eight Masters of Xiling,” Xi Gang’s serene and classical artistry exerted a profound influence on later generations of artists.