Who painted 明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums?

明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums was painted by Lu Zhi in 16th century.

Where can I see 明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums?

明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums?

明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums

Lu Zhi , 1550

明陸治種菊圖軸|Planting Chrysanthemums is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Lu Zhi. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

The available sources do not detail the commission or the chain of ownership prior to the museum's acquisition, and record no public exhibition history.

The hanging scroll titled Planting Chrysanthemums was created by the Chinese artist Lu Zhi in 1550. Executed in ink and color on paper, it is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York under accession number 1973.120.1, catalogued as a Ming-dynasty landscape. The available sources do not detail the commission or the chain of ownership prior to the museum's acquisition, and record no public exhibition history.

Overview

Planting Chrysanthemums is a hanging scroll executed in 1550 by the Ming dynasty artist Lu Zhi (1496–1576). The work depicts a scholar in a wide-brimmed hat kneeling to tend a row of chrysanthemums, set against a backdrop of softly rendered, misty mountains. Created during the mid-16th century, a period when scholar-officials in the Suzhou region increasingly produced art for peer exchange rather than imperial patronage, the piece exemplifies the literati tradition of combining poetic allusion with natural observation.

Lu Zhi employs ink and light color on paper, utilizing delicate washes to create atmospheric depth in the distant peaks while maintaining precise, calligraphic line work for the foreground figures and vegetation. The composition balances the intimate human activity of gardening with the grandeur of the landscape, reflecting the Confucian ideal of self-cultivation through harmony with nature. This work stands as a representative example of Lu Zhi's mature style, characterized by its refined brushwork and the integration of the artist's personal scholarly interests into the visual narrative.

Subject & Meaning

The scroll features a man, identifiable by his wide hat, kneeling amidst a row of chrysanthemums in the foreground. Behind him, diminutive mountains rise, enveloped in a soft haze. In Chinese culture, chrysanthemums frequently symbolize reclusion, endurance, and the integrity of a scholar.

The act of planting these flowers suggests a connection to nature and a contemplative lifestyle, aligning with the values of the literati class for whom such works were created.

Technique & Style

Lu Zhi employed a distinctive approach, utilizing delicate ink washes to render the distant mountains with a misty, ethereal quality. In contrast, the chrysanthemums are delineated with precise, sharp brushstrokes, reminiscent of calligraphic writing. This combination of soft atmospheric effects and crisp detail reflects the artist's mastery of brushwork and his ability to convey both the grandeur of nature and the delicate beauty of individual elements, a hallmark of scholar painting.

Context

Active during the 16th century, Lu Zhi was part of a tradition where Chinese scholar-artists created works primarily for an audience of their peers rather than for imperial patrons. This context fostered an emphasis on personal expression, intellectual themes, and a deep appreciation for nature's symbolic qualities. Planting Chrysanthemums thus reflects the cultivated tastes and philosophical inclinations prevalent among the educated elite of the Ming Dynasty.