A Myriad of Flowers and Birds in Chinese Art

For artists of historical China, the natural world was a major source of inspiration. Birds and flowers reflect nature’s beauty in an ideal way. Bird-and-flower paintings were not only appreciated for their decorative appeal and artistic merit, the motifs may also have symbolic connotation and sometimes form a rebus, a visual and auditory pun, to express good wishes to the recipient.  

This display presents around 20 paintings, porcelain, and embroidery from the collections of the museum and a private collector, some of which have not been shown to the public before. 

This display is dedicated to the memory of the late Clara T. Rankin, museum trustee and lover of birds and flowers.