Peonies

Description

In China, the peony is considered the Queen of Flowers, representing the late spring season. The shrubs of this tree peony are in full bloom, blossoming in various colors. Peony paintings were popular from the Southern Song period to the Ming dynasty. The large scale of this decorative scroll suggests that it may have been hung in a reception hall, conveying good wishes for wealth and prosperity.

Provenance

(Heisando Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1976); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1976–)

Peonies

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late 1200s

Accession Number

1976.90

Medium

hanging scroll, ink and color on silk

Dimensions

Painting: 145.5 x 88.3 cm (57 5/16 x 34 3/4 in.); Overall with knobs: 256 x 113.2 cm (100 13/16 x 44 9/16 in.)

Classification

Painting

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund