Jia Cai
Chinese, 1686 -1756 or later

Zhong Kui the Demon Queller in Self-Admiration, 1733
ink and color on paper, hanging scroll
35 x 48 in.

SBMA, Museum purchase with John and Peggy Maximus Fund
2007.47

SBMA CURATORIAL LABELS

Cai Jia, a versatile artist, was greatly admired by the wealthy patrons of the city of Yangzhou. He painted Zhong Kui, a folk hero, for the occasion of Duanwu Festival as an auspicious seasonal gift. Duanwu is primarily known for honoring the loyal courtier Qu Yuan, who committed suicide in ancient times, a fate shared with Zhong Kui—who was rejected from military service due to his unsightly face. The artist cleverly portrays him as an inebriated gentleman admiring his own reflection. His rolling eyes appear to be focused on the approaching red bat, homophonic in Chinese for “good fortune is appearing in front of one’s eyes.” With a clear tone of gentle self- mockery, both the artist and the recipient of the painting identified with the ideal qualities of strength, loyalty and self –sacrifice that both Zhong Kui and Qu Yuan represented as archetypes of the scholar-official.

- Ridley-Tree Gallery 2016