Tree Peonies in Full Bloom

This vibrant hanging scroll bursts with the lush beauty of tree peonies, their petals rendered in delicate layers of pink, red, and white. The flowers emerge from a dark, undefined background, their forms illuminated as if by an unseen light source. More than just a botanical study, this painting holds a unique place in history: it was a diplomatic gift from Empress Dowager Longyu of China to American Ambassador William C. Calhoun and his wife in 1913. This exchange marked a pivotal moment, occurring just one year after the abdication of the young Emperor Puyi, which brought an end to China's two-thousand-year-old imperial system. The inscription next to the peonies and the calligraphy on the mounting, both signed by the scholar Lu Runxiang, add to its historical significance. While the brief inscription near the large seal above the flowers, dated 1911, describes it as a work of the "imperial brush," the actual painter remains unknown.