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Desk Album: Flower and Bird Paintings (Preening Bird)

Zhang Ruoai

1704

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Qing Painting 18th Century Still Life

Dominant colour

Desk Album: Flower and Bird Paintings (Preening Bird) is a 1704 unspecified by Zhang Ruoai, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Zhang Ruoai
When & what style?: 1704 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a bird perched on a branch, grooming its feathers. The bird has soft brown and white coloring with a hint of blue on its wings. The branch holds green leaves and clusters of small white flowers, all set against a light, neutral background. The artist paid close attention to the bird’s delicate details, like the red mark on its beak. This kind of careful nature painting was common in Chinese art of the time. Next, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more works like this.