Lyu Ji (1477-?), Green Bamboos and White Cranes, hanging scroll

Ink and color on silk 160*97cm

Lyu Ji (1477-?), also known by his zi(courtesy name) Tingzhen and his hao (literary names) written as either Leyu (literally “Delighting in Simplicity”) or Leyu (literally “Delighting in Fishing”), was a native of Ningbo, Zhejiang province. He specialized in bird-and-flower painting, excelling in both gongbi (fine-line brushwork) and xieyi (ink freehand) styles. With fluid and expressive brushwork, he expanded the expressive possibilities of bird-and-flower painting. Alongside Bian Jingzhao and Lin Liang, he is recognized as one of the leading representatives of Ming-dynasty imperial court bird-and-flower painting. His representative work includes Laurel Blossoms, Chrysanthemums, and Birds (Guiju shanqin tu).