Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Giuseppe Castiglione. It dates from 1733 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1733, this small folding fan presents a delicate still‑life scene of two birds perched on a branch laden with pink blossoms.
- Accession no.
- 51.14
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1951
About this work
Technique & Style
Giuseppe Castiglione's Untitled, created in 1733, is executed as a folding fan utilizing ink and color applied to paper.
Giuseppe Castiglione's Untitled, created in 1733, is executed as a folding fan utilizing ink and color applied to paper. The work belongs to the still life genre, featuring formal depictions of a bird and flowers. Produced in China, the piece integrates traditional Chinese painting materials with the specific format of a folding fan, a medium distinct from standard mounted scrolls or album leaves.
The handling of ink and color on the paper support defines its physical character, while the composition centers on the naturalistic representation of the avian and floral subjects.
History & Provenance
Untitled is a folding fan executed in ink and color on paper in 1733 in China by the Jesuit missionary artist Giuseppe Castiglione. The work portrays a bird and a flower, motifs that recur in his Chinese‑style compositions. It was produced as a decorative object rather than a commissioned piece, and no record of a specific patronage survives.
Following its creation the fan entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view today. The museum’s catalogue records the acquisition as part of its holdings of early Sino‑European decorative arts.
Context
Untitled, painted by Giuseppe Castiglione in 1733, is a folding fan executed in ink and color on paper and classified as a painting within the still_life genre, depicting a bird and a flower. The piece was produced in China and is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, illustrating the integration of European missionary artistic practice with Chinese decorative traditions.
Overview
Created in 1733, this small folding fan presents a delicate still‑life scene of two birds perched on a branch laden with pink blossoms. Executed in ink and subtle color on paper, the composition balances crisp linear drawing with gentle washes, offering a compact yet refined visual experience suitable for personal use.
Subject & Meaning
The fan’s imagery centers on the birds and flowering branch, motifs traditionally associated with vitality and renewal. By placing the creatures in a tranquil natural setting, the work conveys a serene observation of nature, inviting contemplation without overt narrative, while the pairing of fauna and flora reflects harmonious coexistence.
Artist & collection
