Artwork preview

Chinese bulbuls on flowering crab apple

Unidentified artist

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts two birds perched on a flowering crab apple branch. The birds are on the left and centre-right of the image, positioned on a diagonal branch that extends from the bottom-left to the top-right. The bird on the left faces right, with a long tail, black spots on its wings and head, and a white body. The bird on the right faces left, with a similar appearance, but its head is turned slightly upwards. The branch has several smaller branches with leaves and small flowers. The background is a light brown colour with four red seals, one in each corner. The seals are square and contain Chinese characters. The overall style is traditional Chinese art.

Artwork details

Date:
14th century
Medium:
Handscroll; ink on paper
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
599 × 422 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette