Artwork
元 邊魯 孔雀芙蓉圖 軸|Peahen and hibiscus
元 邊魯 孔雀芙蓉圖 軸|Peahen and hibiscus is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Bian Lu. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The hanging scroll titled "Peahen and hibiscus" portrays a peahen surrounded by hibiscus blossoms, combining a bird and a flower within a traditional Chinese still‑life composition. Executed in ink and color on silk around 1350 in China, the work exemplifies the still_life genre and features motifs of a peafowl and a flower, which are recurrent subjects in the painting’s iconography. The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, underscoring its significance as a representative example of 14th‑century Chinese decorative painting.
Technique & Style
Stylistically, the painting is classified within the still-life genre, featuring a formal composition that depicts a peafowl alongside hibiscus flowers.
Created in 1350 by the artist Bian Lu, this work is executed as a hanging scroll. The piece utilizes ink and color applied directly onto a silk support. Stylistically, the painting is classified within the still-life genre, featuring a formal composition that depicts a peafowl alongside hibiscus flowers.
The combination of ink washes with mineral or vegetable pigments on the woven silk surface characterizes the material handling typical of Chinese courtly or literati bird-and-flower paintings from the Yuan dynasty period. The specific arrangement of the avian subject amidst the floral elements defines the visual structure of the artwork.
History & Provenance
Created in 1350 in China, this hanging scroll titled Peahen and Hibiscus was executed by the artist Bian Lu using ink and color on silk. The work depicts a peafowl alongside flowers, classifying it within the still-life genre. While specific details regarding its original commission or a detailed chain of private ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not provided in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. The inception date is firmly established as January 1, 1350, marking its production during the Yuan dynasty.
Overview
Bian Lu's Peahen and Hibiscus, created around 1350, is an ink and color painting on silk, presented as a hanging scroll. This work exemplifies a common genre in Chinese art, focusing on the natural world. It features a detailed rendering of a peahen positioned alongside a blossoming hibiscus branch, characterized by a serene and deliberate execution.
Artist & collection
