Artwork
清 傳沈銓 高堂雙壽圖 軸|Flowering Crabapple and Pair of Birds
清 傳沈銓 高堂雙壽圖 軸|Flowering Crabapple and Pair of Birds is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Shen Quan. It dates from 1744 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
The artist used fine brushstrokes to make the petals look almost real, even though the silk is over 250 years old.
A pink crabapple tree fills the scroll, its branches heavy with blossoms. Two small birds perch near the top, one singing, the other listening. Soft green leaves and tiny red berries dot the scene.
Shen Quan painted this in 1744 for a wealthy family’s birthday celebration. The birds aren’t just decoration, they symbolize a long, happy life together. The artist used fine brushstrokes to make the petals look almost real, even though the silk is over 250 years old.
If you like this, look up birds in Chinese art, many painters used them to tell quiet stories.
Technique & Style
The work is executed as a hanging scroll in ink and color on silk, dated 1744. The painting demonstrates meticulous brushwork in the depiction of flowering crabapple branches, where fine, controlled lines define petals and stems, while delicate washes modulate tonal transitions in the blossoms. The pair of birds is rendered with precise feather detailing and subtle ink gradations to suggest volume and plumage texture. The composition balances naturalistic observation with decorative elegance, aligning with the courtly flower-and-bird genre.
History & Provenance
Created in 1744 in China, this hanging scroll titled Flowering Crabapple and Pair of Birds is attributed to the artist Shen Quan. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work depicts flowering crabapple branches with a pair of birds. The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The specific circumstances of its commission or a detailed chain of previous ownership are not recorded in the available documentation.
Overview
This hanging scroll, titled Flowering Crabapple and Pair of Birds, is attributed to the Qing dynasty artist Shen Quan and dates to 1744. Executed with ink and color on silk, the painting presents a vibrant scene dominated by a blossoming crabapple tree. It exemplifies a common genre of Chinese painting that combines natural observation with auspicious symbolism, offering a visual narrative through its carefully chosen elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a pink crabapple tree, its branches laden with delicate blossoms, complemented by soft green leaves and small red berries. Perched among the upper branches are two small birds, one appearing to sing while the other attentively listens. These avian figures are not merely decorative; they carry a specific symbolic weight, traditionally representing a wish for a long and harmonious life, particularly fitting for a celebratory occasion.
Context
The depiction of birds within natural settings holds a long and rich tradition in Chinese art. Artists frequently utilized various bird species not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their symbolic associations, often embedding subtle narratives or auspicious messages within their compositions. Flowering Crabapple and Pair of Birds stands within this broader artistic lineage, where avian subjects often convey quiet stories and cultural meanings.
Artist & collection
