Artwork
Mock lime (aglaia odorata), zhen zhu lan or mi zi lan
Mock lime (aglaia odorata), zhen zhu lan or mi zi lan is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This rectangular watercolour painting depicts a branch of Aglaia odorata, also known as Mock lime or Zhen zhu lan, against a plain white background.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork shows the plant's glossy green leaves and clusters of yellowish flowers, some of which have wilted, highlighting the natural cycle of growth and decay. The flowers were traditionally used to perfume tea.
Technique & Style
The painting features careful shading and detailed rendering of the stems and leaves, characteristic of 19th-century botanical art, which emphasized precise drawing for scientific study.
History & Provenance
The painting was acquired by the Asia Department in 1886, although the source and method of acquisition are not recorded in the department's records.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
