Flower Basket

Data

Explanation

Among the plant paintings of the Song and Yuan dynasties in China are small endearing works of flowers arranged in a basket or a vase as seen here, as well as paintings of a flowering branch composition. This is one style of painting flowers in Jiangnan region, as can be seen in the delicate lines and detailed coloring of the basket and petals. Qian Xuan, to whom the work is attributed, was well known as literary man excelling in bird-and-flower painting. During the Jingding period of Southern Song dynasty, he passed the imperial court exams but never served in the Yuan dynasty court.