Who painted Cherry Apple and Waxbill?

Cherry Apple and Waxbill was painted by Zhao Chang in 998.

Where can I see Cherry Apple and Waxbill?

Cherry Apple and Waxbill is held by National Palace Museum.

Artwork

Cherry Apple and Waxbill

Cherry Apple and Waxbill is an unspecified painting by Zhao Chang. It dates from 998 and is held in the collection of the National Palace Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 998, this small ink-and-wash painting presents a quiet natural scene: a delicate waxbill perched on a slender branch adorned with pink blossoms and green leaves. The composition is framed by a warm, light‑brown ground that subtly supports the bird and fruit, inviting close observation of the subtle interplay of line and color.

Subject & Meaning

The work centers on a cherry apple—a fruit with a soft pink hue—and a waxbill, a diminutive songbird common in Chinese garden imagery. Together they symbolize seasonal renewal and the fleeting beauty of nature, a theme frequently explored in Song‑period literati painting, where everyday objects become vehicles for contemplative reflection.

Technique & Style

Executed with fine brushwork, the artist renders the bird’s plumage in smooth, graduated strokes, contrasting with the textured bark of the branch and the speckled petals of the blossoms. A restrained palette of pinks, greens, and muted browns creates depth without heavy shading, while clean, flowing lines give the composition an elegant, understated clarity.

History & Provenance

It entered the National Palace Museum’s collection in the twentieth century, where it remains a representative example of early Chinese still‑life painting.

Attributed to Zhao Chang, a tenth‑century painter trained under the flower‑and‑bird master Teng Changyou and influenced by Southern Tang artist Xu Chongsi, the piece reflects the cross‑regional exchange of techniques during the early Song dynasty. It entered the National Palace Museum’s collection in the twentieth century, where it remains a representative example of early Chinese still‑life painting.

Artist & collection

Artist

Zhao Chang

Zhao Chang (fl. 10th century), courtesy name Changzhi, was a Chinese painter during the Song dynasty. He was a disciple of flower-and-bird painter Teng Changyou (滕昌祐). He also used the methods of the Southern Tang painter Xu Chongsi.