Pear Blossom from a Flower Album of Ten Leaves, 1656, Xiang Shengmo, Chinese, 1597-1658, 12 1/8 x 9 1/16 in. (30.8 x 23 cm), Ink and color on paper, China, 17th century, Xiang Shengmo was born into one of the most prestigious families in Jiaxing, a city in northeastern China. When the Manchu invasion reached Jiaxing, in 1645, many of Xiang’s friends and relatives died in a vain attempt to save their city. His homestead was destroyed and his family’s art collections lost. Following this upheaval, Xiang’s painting changed from an amateur, literati pursuit, becoming a source of income. Xiang was at the height of his technical and expressive powers when he created this album, featuring a wide range of flowers including wintersweet, cockscomb, apricot, pear, daylily, and cassia. He worked here in pure color without ink outlines and in shaded brushstrokes, which give the impression of three-dimensional modeling.
Keywords:
Pear Blossom, Flower Album, Ten Leaves, 1656, Xiang Shengmo, Chinese, 1597-1658, Ink, color, paper, China, 17th century, Xiang Shengmo, born, prestigious families, Jiaxing, city, northeastern China, Manchu invasion reached Jiaxing, 1645, Xiang's friends, relatives died, vain attempt, save, city, homestead, destroyed, family's art collections lost, Following, upheaval, Xiang's painting changed, amateur, literati pursuit, becoming, source, income, Xiang, height, technical, expressive powers, created, album, featuring, wide range, flowers, wintersweet, cockscomb, apricot, pear, daylily, cassia, worked, pure color, ink outlines, shaded brushstrokes, give, impression, three-dimensional modeling
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