Potted orchid and scholar's rock

Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants. Many orchids cultivated in Chinese gardens are in the genus of Cymbidiums. These plants are greatly admired in Chinese culture and regarded as one of the 'Four Gentlemen', because of their subtle fragrance, and their ability to survive cold temperatures, and slender leaves which give the plant an elegant appearance.
Potted orchids adorn not only gardens but also indoor environments. This painting demonstrates typical adornments of a scholar's studio, a potted orchid accompanied by a scholar's rock (see EA2013.3 for an example). Both the plant and the rock evoke a miniature yet idealised natural world.
The artist Liu Xiling (1848-1923) started to paint with his fingers and palms after the age of 40. This painting is from an album of Liu's finger paintings. The inscription reads "The scholar's rock looked like a dressing table, from afar in a beauty's eyes, while she was slowly waking up. A playful finger painting by Long Daoren [Liu Xiling]".

Details

Title

Potted orchid and scholar's rock
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, finger painted
Material index

paper
Technique index

painted;

brush drawing
Object type

album;

painting
Dimensions

mount 40.6 x 55.9 cm (height x width)
page 36.8 x 43.5 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.f

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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)