Dia.: 19 cm

Provenance: A Dutch private collection, Amsterdam.

This fine blue and white porcelain plate depicts eight horses and a horse keeper, after careful research and comparison, we believe this is not The Eight Horses of Wang Mu. In that renowned depiction, the horses are primarily shown in dynamic, galloping poses, whereas this piece presents a serene scene by a stream, where a horse keeper is bathing the horses. Based on this, we believe that the painting is a tribute to Yuan Dynasty painter Zhao Mengfu’s Bathing Horses (趙孟頫浴馬圖卷). The overall composition evokes a sense of harmony between humans and nature, exuding tranquility and elegance, and can be compared to similar pieces in the collection of the Palace Museum in China. (link)