A Phoenix and two cranes under a tree
16th-17th century
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1916.91
Tags
About this artwork
Known since the Song dynasty (960-1279) as the "king of birds," the phoenix symbolizes the emperor's power and prestige. Here, the regal phoenix towers over the other birds, who seem loath to gaze directly at it. The phoenix is often portrayed flanked by attendant birds-a role played here by two cranes. Moreover, a number of objects are exclusively associated with this mythical bird, among them the paulownia (wu tong) tree, whose branches it is believed are the only ones upon which a phoenix is ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...