Finch on a Citrus Branch, c. 1300, 10 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. ( x cm) (oval), Ink and color on silk, China, 12th-13th century, A finch, intensely focused on a moth, readies to strike its prey. It is perched on a citrus branch whose grapefruit and decaying leaves, like the bird and insect, have been rendered with naturalistic colors and impeccable detail. This style of painting, based on direct observation, is credited to the bird and flower painters of the Northern Song Academy, especially as it developed under the leadership of emperor Hui Zong (r. 1100-1125).

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Size: 4321px × 4140px
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Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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