Accession Number
1987/1.276

Title
God of Happiness and Attendant in the Clouds, in the style of Luo Ping

Artist(s)
Ren Yu (Jen Yü)

Object Creation Date
1886

Medium & Support
hanging scroll, ink on paper

Dimensions
37 1/4 x 17 1/2 in. (94.5 x 44.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Jung Ying Ts'ao, in honor of Senator Carl Levin

Label copy
In this work Ren Yu uses deft, swift brushwork to describe the God of Happiness and his young assistant, who are perched among the clouds. The endearing boy carries on his shoulder a basket filled with strings of coins and peers down, as though deciding who should receive an unexpected fortune. The God of Happiness is a Taoist immortal who is one of the Three Transcendent Powers (together with the God of Prosperity and the God of Longevity). It is believed that this trio rules water, heaven, and earth.
The expressiveness of Ren’s casual and quick brushwork enlivens this portrayal of the immortal Taoist god. According to his inscription, it is painted in the style of Luo Ping (1733– 1799), one of the “eight eccentrics from Yangzhou” acclaimed for their free brushwork, innovative compositions, and bohemian lifestyle.
From Spring/Summer 2015 Gallery Rotation
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Inscription: In the second moon, in the spring of 1886, I copied this painting based on my memory of the original by the Buddhist Liangfeng (Luo Ping, 1733–1799).
Ren Yu of Xiaoshan
Two seals of the artist
Son of the artist Ren Xiong (see UMMA 1985/2.32), Ren Yu lost his father when he was only four years old. Despite Ren Yu’s considerable artistic skill and reputation, his unpredictable temperament often led to conflicts with patrons. He also suffered from his propensity for strong drink and opium. In this work Ren Yu uses deft, swift brushwork to describe the God of Happiness and his young son aloft, perched among the clouds. The endearing boy carries on his shoulder a basket filled with strings of coins and peers down through the clouds, as though deciding who should receive an unexpected fortune.

Subject matter
The God of Happiness stands atop the clouds, with his young assistant carrying a basket of coins on strings. The God of Happiness is a Taoist immortal and a member of the Three Transcendent Powers.

Physical Description
Black ink painting. Inscription in the upper left corner. At the base of the image are clouds with an elderly figure dressed in robes standing atop them. To his right is a younger figure pearing down at the clouds with a pack on his back.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
hanging scroll

Additional Object Classification(s)
Painting

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
calligraphy
child
clouds
gods
gods (dieties)