Who painted Bunch of Flowers With Calamus?

Bunch of Flowers With Calamus was painted by Xiang Shengmo in 1597.

Where can I see Bunch of Flowers With Calamus?

Bunch of Flowers With Calamus is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Bunch of Flowers With Calamus?

Bunch of Flowers With Calamus is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Can I buy a print of Bunch of Flowers With Calamus?

Museum-quality prints of Bunch of Flowers With Calamus are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Bunch of Flowers With Calamus

Xiang Shengmo , 1597

Bunch of Flowers With Calamus is a paint painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Xiang Shengmo. It dates from 1597 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This hanging scroll depicts a cluster of blossoms bound together with calamus, rendered in ink on paper.

About this work

Overview

This hanging scroll depicts a cluster of blossoms bound together with calamus, rendered in ink on paper. Executed by the late Ming painter Xiang Shenmo (1597–1658), the work exemplifies his mature approach to floral subjects, employing delicate, unlined ink washes that convey the softness of petals and foliage.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a tightly gathered bouquet, the stems intertwined with slender calamus stalks. By presenting the flowers in a bundled arrangement, Xiang emphasizes the unity of natural forms and the cultivated aesthetic of garden bouquets popular among literati collectors of his era.

Technique & Style

Xiang applies a ‘boneless’ method, layering translucent ink washes without outlining brushstrokes. This creates a subtle gradation of tone that suggests volume and translucency, akin to the atmospheric effects achieved in Western sfumato, yet rooted in Chinese ink traditions.

History & Provenance

The scroll bears Xiang’s signature and a personal seal that also appears in a 1643 flower album, indicating a likely creation date around 1644, shortly before the Ming dynasty’s collapse. A collector’s seal on the lower left reads “Calligraphy and Painting treasured in the collection of Mr Gao,” linking the piece to an early private collection.

Context

Xiang Shenmo hailed from a prominent scholar‑official family in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and was the grandson of the renowned art collector Xiang Yuanbian. Trained in both landscape and flower painting, he developed a distinctive lyrical style that catered to the tastes of elite connoisseurs during the turbulent late Ming period.