明/清 佚名 傳馬麟 石榴白鳥圖 冊頁 |Pomegranates after Ma Lin

Art Historical Context

This exquisite album leaf, titled *Pomegranates after Ma*, is a Ming or Qing dynasty (1368–1911) painting by an unidentified artist, faithfully emulating the style of the Southern Song master Ma Lin (active ca. 1246–1256). Rendered in ink and color on silk measuring a intimate 10¾ x 10¾ inches, it captures ripe pomegranates bursting with alongside delicate white birds. Album leaves like this were prized in Chinese literati culture for their portability and personal appreciation, often collected in albums for contemplation and study. Ma Lin, a court painter from the prestigious Ma family academy, was renowned for his meticulous bird-and-flower compositions, blending fine brushwork with subtle color washes to evoke nature's elegance. Here, the anonymous artist revives this tradition centuries later, showcasing technical virtuosity in the textured rendering of fruit skins and the lifelike poise of the birds. Pomegranates symbolize fertility, abundance, and numerous progeny in Chinese iconography, while white birds often denote purity and good fortune—auspicious motifs perfect for scholarly gifts or celebrations. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department since 1913, this work highlights the enduring influence of Song dynasty aesthetics on later Chinese painting, bridging imperial refinement with later dynastic reverence for classical models. A testament to artistic homage, it invites viewers to savor the timeless harmony of nature's bounty.

About the Artist

Ma Lin|Unidentified artist · 1180–1256

Chinese, ca. 1180– after 1256