明/清 項聖謨 白菊圖 軸|White Chrysanthemums

Art Historical Context

**White Chrysanthemums** (*Bai ju tu*), a delicate hanging scroll painted in color on paper by Xiang Shengmo in 1654, captures the serene elegance of white chrysanthemums. Measuring 30 7/16 x 15 1/2 inches, this Qing dynasty (1644–1911) work traditional Chinese flower painting, where such scrolls were designed for intimate display in scholar's studios or homes, unrolled for contemplation and then rerolled. Chrysanthemums hold deep cultural resonance in China, symbolizing purity, longevity, and the noble spirit of reclusion amid adversity—qualities resonant in the early Qing era, shortly after the Ming dynasty's fall. Xiang Shengmo, active during this turbulent transition, rendered the blooms with meticulous brushwork, highlighting their layered petals and subtle tones against a minimalist background, a hallmark of literati artistry that prized restraint and natural harmony over ostentation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department from the Edward Elliott Family Collection, this piece invites viewers to appreciate the timeless poetry of nature in ink and color, bridging personal expression and imperial legacy.

About the Artist

Xiang Shengmo · 1597–1658

Chinese, 1597–1658