Who painted 南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree?

南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree was painted by Li Di in 13th century.

Where can I see 南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree?

南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree?

南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree is associated with Song dynasty landscape.

南宋傳李迪幽禽寒林圖冊頁|Two Birds on a Wintry Tree by Li Di (13th century)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the contrast between the delicate forms of the birds and the expansive, snow‑laden limbs, emphasizing the quiet of a cold landscape.

The work presents a wintry scene in which two small birds are perched on the bare branches of a tree covered with snow. The composition focuses on the contrast between the delicate forms of the birds and the expansive, snow‑laden limbs, emphasizing the quiet of a cold landscape. This straightforward naturalistic rendering invites contemplation of endurance and stillness in the face of winter’s austerity, reflecting the Southern Song concern for close observation of nature and its subtle emotional resonance.

Technique & Style

The painting is rendered in ink and polychrome on silk, with the silk leaf mounted as a fan leaf within an album format. The composition shows a solitary tree blanketed in snow, upon which two birds perch, a motif typical of Southern Song bird‑and‑flower imagery. The work’s formal handling emphasizes delicate brushwork and subtle color washes to suggest a wintry atmosphere, while the fan‑leaf support reflects the practice of integrating painted leaves into album collections. These material and stylistic choices contribute to the piece’s elegant, restrained aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Created in 1239 in China, this fan painting mounted as an album leaf is traditionally attributed to the Southern Song artist Li Di, though modern scholarship often identifies the creator as an anonymous painter. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work depicts a wintry landscape featuring birds and snow-covered trees. The piece currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is cataloged with dimensions of 23.8 by 24.1 centimeters.

While the specific commission details and intermediate ownership history prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's inception date and attribution status remain central to its historical classification.

The album leaf titled Two Birds on a Wintry Tree, attributed to the Southern Song master Li Di or an anonymous follower, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the work is dated to 1239, the museum's records identify it as a painting by an anonymous artist. The piece is executed in ink and color on silk, mounted as a fan leaf within an album, measuring 23.8 by 24.1 centimeters.

The provided sources confirm its current location at the Metropolitan Museum of Art but do not contain specific accession numbers, inventory codes, or a detailed chronology of past exhibitions for this specific object.

Context

Dated to 1239, the work is an ink and polychrome silk album leaf mounted as a fan, portraying two birds on a snow‑covered branch. It is classified as a landscape painting and attributed to the Southern Song artist Li Di, though the authorship remains uncertain. The piece measures 23.8 × 24.1 cm and was created in China, later entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Chinese painting holdings.

Its inclusion in a major Western museum illustrates the work’s significance in the transmission of Southern Song visual culture.

Legacy

The Southern Song painting attributed to Li Di, known as Two Birds on a Wintry Tree, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a placement that reflects its recognized importance in the history of Chinese bird-and-flower imagery. Dating to 1239, the work exemplifies the delicate ink and color technique on silk that characterized Southern Song album leaves. Its inclusion in a major museum has prompted continued scholarly discussion of Li Di’s role in the development of avian motifs, influencing later interpretations of winter landscape subjects in East Asian art.

Overview

“Two Birds on a Wintry Tree,” attributed to Li Di, is a delicate ink and color painting on silk from the Southern Song dynasty, dated 1239. Originally created as a fan, this intimate work depicts two small birds perched on a snow-dusted branch. Its compact scale, smaller than a human hand, invites close contemplation of its detailed composition and serene atmosphere.