the seal face inscribed si mei ju ('Four Beauties Complete'), flanked by two confronting chilong
Length 4.9 cm, 1⅞ in.
图录
说明:The term Simeiju derives from the seventh-century Preface to the Prince of Teng's Pavilion by Wang Bo. Apparently itself derived from the 'Four Beauties' of fifth-century poet Xie Lingyun, the phrase is taken to describe the features of the perfect gathering (an auspicious day, beautiful scenery, a joyful mood, and pleasant activities) and adopted a millenium later by the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736-1795) to describe four of his favourite paintings, formerly in the collection of the late Ming collector Gu Congyi. These four works (Dream Journey on the Xiao-Xiang River; The Shu River; Nine Songs; and the Admonsitions of the Instructress) were enshrined in the Jingyixuan and impressed with Simeiju seals.
Compare a closely related imperial Simeiju seal mark from the Qianlong reign recorded in Guo Fuxiang, Ming Qing di hou xiyin [Imperial seals of the Ming and Qing dynasties], Beijing, 2003, vol. 5, p. 22; and a Jiaqing rendition, ibid., vol. 8, p. 38.