Varieties of Lychee Fruit
Medium
Handscroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
10 7/8 x 83 1/8 in. (27.6 x 211.1 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Song dynasty (?) (960–1279)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
From the Collection of A. W. Bahr, Purchase, Fletcher Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.18.95
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Varieties of Lychee Fruit a captivating handscroll from the Song (960–1279), showcases the exquisite tradition of Chinese nature painting. Created in ink and color on, this narrow yet elongated work (27.6 x 211.1 cm) like a storybook, inviting viewers to slowly reveal its detailed depictions of lychee fruits in various forms. Attributed possibly to Emperor Gaozong, Southern Song ruler and noted artist, it exemplifies the period's fascination with botanical precision, blending scientific observation with poetic elegance. Lychees held cultural prestige in imperial China, symbolizing rarity an...