Flowers and Poem

Members of the Yeh family managed to acquire a number of works previously owned by the imperial family; these appeared on the market in the early part of the twentieth century. Most of the works the Yehs purchased were in the taste of China's educated elite. This piece is an exception: It had the appeal of having been created by members of the Qing imperial family themselves.

A relatively simple fan, this work features a painting of flowers on one side and a calligraphy on the reverse (not shown). The painting is signed "Respectfully painted by your subject Mian Yi." The calligraphy, a poem written in standard script (kaishu), is by Mian Ning. He signed the work "My correspondence on the colophon written by His Majesty on the painting albums of Zhengzong [Wen Zhengming, 1470–1559]; on the request of His Majesty, prudently written by your subject-son, Mian Ning." The Jiaqing emperor [reigned 1796–1820] was the majesty to whom Mian Ning referred.