Gongbi Flower and Bird Painting "Blossom and Riches - Fairview Tianhua

Paintings featured

1. Gorgeous realism of traditional brushwork:
   • Heavy color: mineral pigments such as cinnabar, rouge, rattan yellow, stone green, etc. are used and layered through the technique of "three alums and nine dyes" to make the petals as translucent as silk satin, the red peonies as intense as fire, the pink peonies as soft as cloudy haze, the yellow peonies as brilliant as gilt, and the purple peonies as noble as silk, all of which are interwoven to form a feast for the eyes;
   • Subtleties: the edges of the petals are outlined with curling textures by "silk tracing", the stamens are outlined with gold powder like starbursts, the front and back of the leaves are dyed with stone green and dark green, and the veins of the leaves are accurately etched by wire tracing, demonstrating that "each and every flower and leaf can be tasted". The veins of the leaves are accurately etched with iron lines, showing the craftsmanship of "every flower and every leaf can be tasted".
2. Metaphorical expression of ecological narrative:
   • Two ribbon birds perch on the branches of a peony bush, their red beaks and blue feathers reflecting the color of the flowers, symbolizing "wealth and longevity";
   • The bees are dancing among the flowers, and the "silk hair method" is used to paint the fluff, concealing the secular prayer of "making honey diligently and gathering wealth", which gives the picture a spiritual vitality.

Detailed depiction

• Peony pouring:
  • The main red peony has nine layers of petals, the outer layer of rouge is dyed like a blaze, the inner layer of vermilion is like a sunrise, and the center of the flower is covered with gold stamens like an emperor's crown;
  • The pink peonies on the side of the flower half cover their delicate faces, and the tips of the petals are brightened with titanium white to resemble the shyness of a beauty, while the purple peonies are covered with rouge on a base of floral green, giving them a noble and natural look;
  • The leaves are as green as jade, the front leaves are dyed with stone green, the back leaves are swept with juice green, the veins of the leaves are traced with iron threads as if the tendons are clearly defined, and the dewdrops are embellished with titanium white, which is crystal clear and dripping.
• Ecological interest:
  • The old branches are as gnarled as dragons, with the cracks of years chapped by burnt ink, and the new shoots are awakened by the stone yellow color, and the philosophical thoughts of life are hidden between the contrasts of withering and glory;
  • Bamboo swaying in the background, not only balancing the composition, but also a metaphor for the literati style of "the rich and powerful will not change the gentleman's temperament".

Artistic Value

1. Technique inheritance and cultural symbols:
   • Inheriting the spirit of the Song dynasty's courtyard style of birds and flowers, and integrating the colorful ink of Yun Shouping's "boneless method" of the Qing dynasty, the petals are dyed as if they were inked on raw rice paper, and the leaves are dyed as if they were silks, which is a model of hand-brush peony;
   • The inscription in seal script, "The National Colors are Unmatched", is inscribed on the upper left, and the vermilion seal, "Fancy Forever", is inscribed on the lower right, forming a classical layout of "diagonal echoes" and reflecting the beauty of poetry, calligraphy, painting and sealing as a whole.
2. It has the dual properties of decoration and collection:
   • The picture is magnificent without losing elegance, which can be used as the visual focus of modern homes, and also has the academic value of studying traditional brushwork techniques;
   • The handwriting of famous artists, its innovative techniques (such as gold powder hook stamen, titanium white brightening) and color tension has more potential for market appreciation.

Suitable scene

• Main wall of living room: hanging in the background of the sofa, with mahogany furniture and celadon vase, instantly enhance the elegance of the space;
• Chinese banquet hall: as the main background painting, together with the carved screen and the palace lamp array, it creates the atmosphere of "blooming flowers in the world";
• Cultural Pavilion: displayed in the traditional art exhibition area, with panels analyzing the techniques of brush painting, it becomes a vivid carrier for the popularization of aesthetic education.

Purchase Information

1. Framing suggestions:
   • Palace style framing: Ming yellow ground with crane pattern damask frame, with rosewood relief frame, reproducing the royal charm of the Qing Dynasty "Office of the Maker";
   • Modern minimalist frame: matte metal fine frame + gilt rice paper cardboard, weakening the traditional sense of heaviness, suitable for urban apartment space.
2. Conservation Guide:
   • Avoid light and moisture: store at less than 60% humidity, avoid direct sunlight that may oxidize the mineral pigments;
   • Professional dusting: monthly soft brush with sable bristles to flick the picture along the texture, stubborn stains need to be handed over to the painting and calligraphy restorer to deal with;
   • Display taboos: away from the kitchen fumes, bright light environment is recommended to install UV museum-grade glass.

**✨ Hide the ingenuity **

• Miniature Poem: The back of the leaf is inscribed with Li Bai's poem "The Clouds Want Clothes, The Flowers Want Looks" in small caps, which can only be seen when viewed in side-light;
• Light and shadow code: the highlights of the petals are stacked with clam powder, which gives a three-dimensional relief effect under the light, simulating the concave and convex texture of real petals;
• Metaphor of the four seasons: the picture contains the first bloom (spring), blooming (summer), fruiting (fall), and withering (winter), implicating the way of reincarnation of all things.

Significance of the Collection
Flowering Fortune - Embroidered Tianhua is not only the peak of brushwork skills, but also an epic of blooming oriental aesthetics. The overlapping petals of the flowers show the prosperity of the world; the intertwining branches and leaves realize the cycle of withering and rebirth. If you hang this painting in your room, you do not need to fill your door with gold and jade, but you will have your own national colors and fragrances in your heart.