Artwork
Chinese White Cabbage
Chinese White Cabbage is a paint painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Chinese White Cabbage is a painting from a set of 24 botanical artworks, each featuring a different plant species with its Chinese name inscribed.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a Chinese white cabbage in detail, reflecting the 18th- and 19th-century fascination with exotic flora and fauna among British botanists and the general public.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by its precise rendering of the plant, suggesting a focus on botanical accuracy typical of its time.
Context
The painting was created during a period when travellers brought back foreign plants and artworks depicting tropical species to Britain, fueling interest in non-native flora.
Artist & collection
