MOUNTAINS IN AUTUMN

SHEN ZHOU (1427-1509) MOUNTAINS IN AUTUMN Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and color on paper Inscribed and signed by the artist, dated xinchou year of the Chenghua era (1481) Second inscription by the artist in which he commented: It has been two decades since I first painted this. Twenty-two years have passed like a day. I do not recall for whom I painted this [picture]. My hair and teeth have fallen out; I no longer look young and happy like before. Everything is in decline. Someone bought back this painting on the market. As it cannot be sold for 700 wen, I returned it to him, with lamentations on how things wax and wane, and that life is so short. Second inscription dated renxu year of the Hongzhi era (1502), at the age of 76 sui One seal of the artist Two collector's seals of Ding Nianxian (1906-1969) One illegible collector's seal 58 x 22 5/8 in. (147.5 x 57 cm.)