Morning Glories and Insects

Qi Baishi’s love for painting morning glories was inspired by his friend, renowned Chinese opera singer Mei Lanfang. Qi recalled, “Mei Lanfang planted many flowers. He had over a hundred species of morning glories, many of which I have never seen. From then on I began to paint this flower.” In the current painting, the red and blue morning glories intertwine with the vines and leaves, enriching the composition from top to bottom. Combining Qi’s mastery of xieyi and gongbi, Qi used his expert fine brush technique to render the praying mantis and the cricket so they are realistic and full of life.