Tianjin Art Museum

　　 The Tianjin Art Museum, located on Jiefang North Road in Tianjin, is a building in the Baroque style. This three-story structure was built in 1908 and was originally the Banque de l’Indochine, a French bank. The square pilasters of the building rise from the ground to the eaves, emphasizing the vertical divisions of the façade and showcasing strong contrasts of light and shadow. Alternating use of triangular pediments and arched or rectangular windows creates an irregular rhythmic variation. The walls are richly adorned with carvings, and the cast iron gate with decorative patterns further enhances the building's charm. The entire structure is dignified and graceful, innovative and unique, pursuing novel and dynamic forms—exhibiting the flexible and free design techniques of Baroque architecture. In 1957, this Baroque-style building was renovated into the Tianjin Art Museum.

　　 The museum’s collection includes paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, pottery, jade artifacts, seals, inkstones, ink sticks, lacquerware, Tianjin folk art, as well as modern artworks of academic and preservation value. Among its first-class collections are 389 items, including Fan Kuan’s “Snowy Landscape and Cold Forest” from the Song Dynasty, Qian Xuan’s “Flowers and Birds” and Bian Lu’s “Peaceful Abode” from the Yuan Dynasty, Qiu Ying’s “Peach Blossom Spring” from the Ming Dynasty, and Bada Shanren’s “Flowers along the River” from the Qing Dynasty. Other treasures include Tang Dynasty copies of Wang Xizhi’s “Cold Cut Letter,” bronze vessels such as the Ke and Ke Ding, jade artifacts like the Shang Dynasty Jiazi Calendar Jade Tablet, ceramics such as the Yongzheng famille rose Eight Peaches Plate and the Qianlong enamel Peony Chickens Jade Pitcher Spring Bottle—all considered highly valuable cultural relics. The Tianjin Art Museum primarily collects masterpieces of calligraphy, paintings, ceramics, bronzes, seals, bricks, tiles, stone carvings, steles, inkstones, lacquerware, enamelware, as well as bamboo, wood, ivory, and stone sculptures. Many of these pieces rank among the finest in China. For example, in the category of calligraphy and paintings, “Snowy Landscape and Cold Forest” is the only surviving work by Northern Song artist Fan Kuan on the mainland. This painting survived both the Anglo-French Allied Forces invasion and other calamities, remaining completely intact and has become the treasure of the Tianjin Art Museum. Other treasured items include the Tang Dynasty copy of Wang Xizhi’s cursive script “Cold Cut Letter,” Li Tang’s “Autumn Waters at Haoliang” from the Song Dynasty, Su Hanchen’s “Children at Play,” Bian Lu’s “Peaceful Abode” from the Yuan Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu’s running script “Ode to the Goddess of Luo,” and Qiu Ying’s “Peach Blossom Spring” from the Ming Dynasty.

　　 Among the collections at the Tianjin Art Museum, inkstones are particularly exquisite—not only stone inkstones but also jade, tile, ceramic, iron, clay, agate, and crystal inkstones. Among them, the Qing Dynasty’s “Red Cliff Inkstone” and “Black Rain Inkstone,” as well as the Ming Dynasty’s “Stone Drum Script Inkstone” and “Lotus Fish Cinnabar Clay Inkstone,” are regarded as miraculous creations of nature and human craftsmanship. Ceramics are also a significant part of the museum’s collection, featuring masterpieces from historically renowned kilns that showcase extraordinary artistry. Among the fine ceramics from famous kilns such as Jun, Ru, and Ding, the Qing Dynasty Qianlong enamel Peony Chickens Jade Pitcher Spring Bottle stands out the most, representing the highest level of ceramic craftsmanship in China at that time.