Flowers, Grasses, and Butterflies, 16th century
Attributed to Lu Zhiexpand_more
Ink and colors on silkexpand_more
The Suzanne S. Roberts Endowment for Asian Artexpand_more 2018.10.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Compared to bird-and-flower paintings of the same period, this painting shows a much heavier use of color, a characteristic typical of the attributed artist, Lu Zhi. It is more concerned with descriptive realism and appearance than a spontaneous ‘composing of the idea' style practiced by amateur scholar-gentlemen. Its rich colouring and meticulous detail provide an intimate, decorative appearance. The charm of the painting also comes from the cultural connotation implied by the motifs themselves. The Chinese name for butterfly, die 蝶, for instance, is a pun on the term die 耋, denoting a person who has reached an old age. Therefore, it may have been created to commemorate an important birthday of an elderly gentleman.
Details
- Title
- Flowers, Grasses, and Butterflies
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2018.10.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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