Wang Xizhi: Timely Clearing after Snowfall

Description

       In this short letter written in running script, Wang Xizhi sends greetings to a friend after a snowfall. The Ming dynasty connoisseur Zhan Jingfeng (詹景鳳, 1520-1602) pointed out that the round, forceful, elegant nature of the brushwork here has a leisurely spirit that influenced the running script of Zhao Mengfu (趙孟頫, 1254-1322), an influential calligrapher and painter of the Yuan dynasty. Much of the brushwork appears round and blunt, the dots and hooked strokes not revealing the tip of the brush. The characters are even and balanced, revealing a straightforward elegance and introverted harmony. The Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1735-1796) in the Qing dynasty especially prized this work, praising it as “The one and only; a masterpiece for all time (天下無雙，古今鮮對).” In 1747, he had it and “Mid-Autumn (中秋帖)” by Wang Xianzhi (王獻之) and “Boyuan (伯遠帖)” by Wang Xun (王珣) housed in a special room – “The Three Treasures Hall (三希堂)”. This work is nowadays generally considered to be an excellent copy made in the Tang dynasty. None of Wang Xizhi’s original handwriting has survived.