Purple Magnolia
Painting
1800-1830 (made)
1800-1830 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Exotic flora and fauna was of great interest to British botanists in the 18th and 19th centuries, and such enthusiasm gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers often returned to Britain with foreign plants and more commonly, paintings depicting numerous species of tropical flowers and fruits. This painting of a purple magnolia is skilfully done and very true to life.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Purple Magnolia (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour and ink on Chinese paper |
| Brief description | Painting, 'Purple Magnolia', watercolours on paper, China, 1800-1830 |
| Physical description | Painting depicting a stem with purple and white flowers and small ovate, green leaves. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | The purple magnolia was used medicinally in ancient China, and flower buds were found among the medicinal herbs of the 2nd century BC tomb No.1 of Mawangdui, Changsha. Other names: xinyi and mulan (wood orchid). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Exotic flora and fauna was of great interest to British botanists in the 18th and 19th centuries, and such enthusiasm gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers often returned to Britain with foreign plants and more commonly, paintings depicting numerous species of tropical flowers and fruits. This painting of a purple magnolia is skilfully done and very true to life. |
| Bibliographic reference | Souvenir from Canton : Chinese export paintings from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Shanghai, 2003
228 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 491 |
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| Record created | October 15, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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