Artwork
清 佚名 趙昌(僞款) 蜂王圖 卷|Yellow Roses and Bees, Pink Roses and Wasps

清 佚名 趙昌(僞款) 蜂王圖 卷|Yellow Roses and Bees, Pink Roses and Wasps is an ink painting by the Baroque artist After Zhao Chang. It dates from 1777 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This handscroll, titled Yellow Roses and Bees, Pink Roses and Wasps, is an ink and color painting on silk from the Qing dynasty, dated 1777.
About this work
History & Provenance
No information is available regarding an original commission, earlier private ownership, or intermediate provenance prior to the museum's acquisition.
The handscroll Yellow Roses and Bees, Pink Roses and Wasps is attributed to an anonymous Qing-dynasty painter working in a style after Zhao Chang, with the spurious Zhao Chang signature added to the silk. The work was produced in China in 1777, executed in ink and color on silk as a still life depicting bees and roses. It later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
No information is available regarding an original commission, earlier private ownership, or intermediate provenance prior to the museum's acquisition.
The handscroll titled Yellow Roses and Bees, Pink Roses and Wasps, attributed to an anonymous Qing dynasty painter imitating Zhao Chang, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created in 1777, the work is executed in ink and color on silk. While the piece is documented as part of the museum's holdings, the provided records do not specify a unique accession number or detail any past exhibition history for this specific object.
Overview
This handscroll, titled Yellow Roses and Bees, Pink Roses and Wasps, is an ink and color painting on silk from the Qing dynasty, dated 1777. It presents a vibrant still life featuring various roses alongside their pollinating insects. Although the true creator remains unknown, the work bears a spurious signature of Zhao Chang, a celebrated flower painter from the Song dynasty. The scroll format invites a gradual viewing experience, unfolding a detailed natural scene.
Subject & Meaning
The scroll meticulously portrays clusters of roses, distinguishing between pale yellow blossoms accompanied by bees and pink varieties frequented by wasps. Each delicate petal and intricate insect wing is rendered with precision, creating a sense of lifelike detail. The composition suggests an observation of the natural world, capturing the symbiotic relationship between flowers and their visitors within a serene garden setting.
Technique & Style
Executed with ink and color on silk, the artwork demonstrates a refined attention to detail. The artist employed fine brushwork to depict the delicate textures of rose petals and the translucent wings of the insects. This careful rendering creates an immersive quality, almost suggesting the subtle hum of the bees and wasps. Designed as a handscroll, the piece encourages an intimate, unfolding viewing experience, revealing its narrative gradually.
Artist & collection
















