A pair of swallows flying over a pool

Liu Xiling (1848-1923) was from the region of present-day Sichuan province. He was active during the Guangxu period (1875-1908) of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). He toured extensively in China and was well known for his series of albums of landscapes and local customs. Liu started to paint with his fingers and palms after the age of 40, probably inspired by Gao Qipei (1660-1734). This painting is from an album of Liu's finger paintings. Swallows are one of his favourite subjects and he liked to depict birds flying towards the viewer, which was not common in Chinese bird painting. The inscription reads 'Swallows are twittering by a pool, willows swaying from the east wind.'

Details

Title

A pair of swallows flying over a pool
Artist/maker

Liu Xiling (1848 - 1923)

style of Gao Qipei (1660 - 1734)
Associated place

Zhejiang province (place of creation)
Date

1848 - 1923
Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period (1875 - 1908)
Material and technique

ink and colour on paper, probably finger painted
Material index

paper
Technique index

painted;

brush drawing
Object type

painting;

album
Dimensions

mount 40.6 x 55.9 cm (height x width)
page 36.8 x 40.4 cm (height x width)
painting 31.4 x 36.5 cm (height x width)
No. of items

1
Credit line

Bequeathed by Emily Georgiana Kemp, 1940.
Museum location

not on display
Museum department

Eastern Art
Accession no.

EAX.5345.c

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Catalogue text

Active in the Guangxu (1875-1908) period of the Qing dynasty Liu Xiling was from Huayang (present-day Chengdu) in Sichuan province, but as a painter was active in Zhejiang. His painting style and subject matter were inspired by Gao Qipei (q.v.).

In: Vainker, Shelagh, Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2000)