White-robed Kuan-yin Tu-ling Nei-shih, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk, 54 x 28.6 cm           Tu-ling nei-shih (personal name Chu) is the sobriquet of the daughter of the famous artist Ch'iu Ying (ca. 1494-1552). Influenced by her father, she was good at landscape as well as figure painting, and she is a famous female artist of the Ming dynasty.           In this work, the White-robed Kuan-yin sits on a large blue lotus blossom rising from a pond and surrounded by lotus leaves and reeds. She appears with several objects that she is often associated with. Resting on a lotus pod next to her is the water vase of purity. The vase rests in a water cup and holds a willow branch. With her elegant facial features, Kuan-yin is shown as a beautiful maiden adorned with flowing drapery lines. The leaves and reeds are done in outlines and light ink washes, while other details include washes of color for contrast, especially evident in the white pigment of Kuan-yin's robes. The elegance and otherworldliness of the figure make this an exceptional work by a female artist of the Ming dynasty.