This is a Flower and Bird Chinese scroll painting in the truest sense — a flower-and-bird scene, painted to be lived with. No wonder painters loved this subject; in this scroll it effortlessly carries everything. The painter didn't skimp on detail — camellia and bees all get their moment.
The line work is lively and varied, the washes laid down with assurance — brushwork without a moment's doubt. Like much classical Chinese art, it carries a wish inside the image — the camellia stands for devotion and quiet admiration. Stand back and the whole holds together; step close and camellia rewards the visit. It comes finished as a hanging scroll should be: silk-mounted, complete, needing no frame.
A thoughtful housewarming choice for anyone with a soft spot for Chinese brush art. If you collect flower and bird pieces, this one earns its place. It is a fine example of camellia and bees Chinese painting, the kind of piece that grows on you.
