Lotus and waterbirds

ca. 1300

Not on view

Imported from India, the lotus—growing from the slime of a pond, its blossoms blooming unsullied—was linked to Buddhist images of purity and rebirth. By the thirteenth century, naturalistic depictions of lotus in different seasons also evoked the ephemeral nature of physical beauty. This large-scale decorative work is by a professional painter of the Piling School, situated near Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. The midsummer scene (on the right) shows lotus flowers in early stages of budding and bloom, while the autumnal scene (on the left) shows its later stages: petals falling, leaves turning brown, and seed pods ripening. The newly sprouted water reeds of midsummer also contrast with the late-blooming water plant and the smartweed that has gone to seed, while the busy activity of a pair of ducks skimming the water for food on the right is juxtaposed with two egrets resting quietly on the left.

Artwork Details

元佚名蓮花圖對軸
Title: Lotus and waterbirds
Artist: Unidentified artist , active ca. 1300
Period: Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
Date: ca. 1300
Culture: China
Medium: Pair of hanging scrolls; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: Image (each): 55 3/4 x 26 3/4 in. (141.6 x 67.9 cm)
Overall with mounting (each): 107 1/2 x 27 1/4 in. (273.1 x 69.2 cm)
Overall with knobs (each): 107 1/2 x 27 3/4 in. (273.1 x 70.5 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, The Dillon Fund Gift, 1988
Object Number: 1988.155a, b
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

7483. Lotus and Waterbirds

0:00

We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

By Unidentified artist

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Shakyamuni triad, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; color and gold on silk, Korea — Shakyamuni triad
Unidentified artist
1565

Dung-Chen, Brass, copper, cloisonné, Chinese — Dung-Chen
Chinese
1368–1644

Hawk at sunrise, Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來 Korean, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Korea — Hawk at sunrise
Attributed to Jeong Hong-Rae 정홍래 鄭弘來
second half 18th century–first half 19th century

Emperor Xuanzong's flight to Shu, Unidentified artist Chinese, active mid-12th century, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, China — Emperor Xuanzong's flight to Shu
Unidentified artist
mid-12th century

Dung Chen, Cloisonne brass, Chinese — Dung Chen
Chinese
1368–1644

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.