Lin Chun (twelfth century), Sung dynasty

Original: Ink and colors on silk, 23.4 x 24 cm.

Leaf 12 of the album: Collected Works of Sung and Yuan Masters

A single branch of flowering cherry-apple is shown.

A native of Ch'ien-t'ang, Chekiang, Lin Chun held the title of tai-chao in the Imperial Painting Academy during the reign of Shun-hsi (1174-1189). A specialist at painting birds, flowers and fruit, he studied with another artist, Chao Ch'ang. When painting birds and flowers, Lin Chun utilized delicate color washes, capturing the pale pastels found in nature.