# Scholar Watching the Waterfall

- By: Luo Ping (Chinese, 1733–1799)
- Date: 1764
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: Painting: 125.7 x 56.8 cm (49 1/2 x 22 3/8 in.); Overall: 230.5 x 72.1 cm (90 3/4 x 28 3/8 in.)
- Culture: China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
- Credit line: Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1975.95)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/cma/1975.95/1975.95_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Little Ones profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

In this hanging scroll, a scholar and his attendant contemplate a waterfall. A light breeze lifts the scholar’s robe and blows the tree leaves, suggesting movement. Luo Ping from Anhui province was orphaned after his family had moved to Yangzhou, but his talent was recognized by the salt merchant brothers Ma Yueguan (1688–1755) and Ma Yuelu (1697–after 1766), who introduced him to literati circles. His patrons' portraits are in CMA 1979.72.

Inspired by painter Jin Nong in his early career, Luo became known for his creative figure paintings, including ghosts. Scholar Watching a Waterfall was painted in his Yangzhou studio in the year of Jin’s death.