Panel with Peonies and Butterfly

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The artwork, Panel with Peonies and Butterfly by an unknown artist, features a dense arrangement of elements on a square panel. The background of the panel is green. Two large peony flowers dominate the composition, one on the left and one on the right, both rendered in shades of orange, brown, and white. The flowers are intricately detailed with visible texture. Surrounding the peonies are smaller, similarly colored flowers, leaves, and curving vines, all stitched in orange. The panel is framed by a thin gold border. A blue and white butterfly is positioned near the bottom center. The overall design is symmetrical, with elements mirrored on both sides of a central vertical axis.