Ju Lian Flowers, Grass and Insects Selection

Author: (Qing) Ju Lian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: This collection includes twelve exquisite flower and insect paintings by Ju Lian from his later years, featuring peonies, chrysanthemums, azaleas, crape myrtle, and other southern mountain flowers. The works meticulously depict insects with lifelike precision, embodying both form and spirit. They serve as rare and classic examples of traditional flower and insect paintings and represent the Lingnan School of Painting.
Ju Lian (1828–1904), styled Guquan, also known as Ge Shan Laoren (Old Man of Ge Shan) and Qeshan Qiaozi, received early artistic training from his Ju Nao (1811–1865). His skills improved significantly, earning him equal fame with his brother, and they were collectively known as the "Two Ju." Ju Lian produced an abundance of works throughout his life, particularly in small formats such as square paintings, albums, and fan paintings. Building upon the style of his brother's flower-and-bird paintings, he incorporated techniques from various masters and drew inspiration from nature, emphasizing observation and realism. He excelled in methods like "colliding water" and "colliding powder," resulting in works with vibrant, harmonious colors, strong three-dimensionality, and a unique style that broke from conventional norms. His fame spread across Lingnan, earning him the title "Ju School."
While creating art, Ju Lian also established a studio to teach apprentices. He was rigorous in his studies and continuously refined his artistry, attracting many followers whose style was deeply influenced by him. Masters of Chinese painting, including Gao Jianfu and Chen Shuren, among the founders of the Lingnan School, were among his early students (Chen Shuren, Gao Jianfu, and Gao Qifeng were later known as the "Three Great Masters of Lingnan"). Thus, he was revered as the patriarch of the Lingnan School of Painting.
Ju Lian's works possess a fresh, refined, and vivid visual aesthetic, widely admired across all social strata. His painting style influenced a generation of Guangdong artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, earning him the monikers "Ge Shan School" or "Ju School." Among his works, flower-and-insect paintings are considered the finest, followed by still-life birds and beasts, and then landscapes and figures, covering a broad range of themes. As one of the few "highly productive" painters of the late Qing Guangdong School, his works were widely disseminated, not only in Guangdong but also in Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan.