Artwork
南宋 佚名 竹梅小禽圖 團扇|Sparrows, plum blossoms, and bamboo
南宋 佚名 竹梅小禽圖 團扇|Sparrows, plum blossoms, and bamboo is an ink painting. It dates from 1183 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 24.80.487
- Credit line
- Bequest of Mary Clark Thompson, 1923
About this work
History & Provenance
The Southern Song dynasty work 南宋 佚名 竹梅小禽圖 團扇 (Sparrows, Plum Blossoms, and Bamboo) was produced in 1183 in China by an unidentified painter.
The Southern Song dynasty work 南宋 佚名 竹梅小禽圖 團扇 (Sparrows, Plum Blossoms, and Bamboo) was produced in 1183 in China by an unidentified painter. It is executed as a fan, subsequently mounted as an album leaf, in ink and color on silk, depicting bamboo, plum blossoms, and a small bird. The work belongs to the bird-and-flower tradition and is attributed to an anonymous master.
It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is catalogued as a painting in ink and color on silk. The available documentation does not record a specific accession number or any past exhibition history for the piece.
Context
The twelfth-century Southern Song fan, attributed to an anonymous master, exemplifies the era's bird-and-flower painting; its depiction of bamboo, plum blossoms, and sparrows aligns with the motifs documented in its catalogue entry. Mounted as an album leaf on silk and dated 1183, the piece reflects the anonymous painter's role in the court-linked decorative tradition of the period. Scholarship situates the work as a representative example of Southern Song anonymous painting and of the development of avian-floral subjects in Chinese art.
Overview
This painting, titled Sparrows, Plum Blossoms, and Bamboo, originates from the Southern Song dynasty and is attributed to an anonymous artist. Executed in ink and color on silk, the artwork was originally a fan that has since been mounted as an album leaf. It presents a serene natural vignette, focusing on small birds amidst flora.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a tranquil natural setting, featuring several sparrows resting on slender bamboo stalks. Delicate plum blossoms are also depicted, contributing to the overall sense of a quiet, unassuming moment in nature. The arrangement emphasizes simplicity and observation, inviting contemplation of the natural world.
Technique & Style
The artwork employs ink and color applied to silk, a widely utilized method in traditional Chinese painting. This technique allowed for the creation of intricate details and subtle tonal variations, contributing to the delicate aesthetic of the piece. Originally forming part of a functional fan, the painting was later preserved by being mounted as an album leaf, a common practice for valued artworks.
Artist & collection
