Birds, bamboo, and camelias

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Maker(s)
Artist: Formerly attributed to Lin Chun (active late 12th century)
Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, ca. 1700
Medium
Ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 37.2 x 219.9 cm (14 5/8 x 86 9/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1909.219
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Handscroll

Keywords
bamboo, bird, bird and flower, camellia, China, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911)
Provenance

To 1909
Riu Cheng Chai, Beijing, to 1909 [1]

From 1909 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Riu Cheng Chai, Beijing, in 1909 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 678, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. This object exhibits seals, colophons, or inscriptions that could provide additional information regarding the object’s history; see Curatorial Remarks in the object record for further details.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Riu Cheng Chai (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Label

Two ashy drongo-like birds and three spotted-neck doves rest on the camellia branches. The intense deep red camellias silhouetted against the green leaves and bamboos are startling. Six songbirds huddling together on the bending bamboo conclude the scroll.

This painting was executed around 1700; a signature of the 12th century court painter Lin Ch'un was interpolated at the end of the scroll.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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