石渠寶笈續編(寧壽宮),第五冊,頁2801&*故宮書畫錄(卷五),第三冊,頁335&*故宮書畫圖錄,第七冊,頁191-192&* 呂紀(活動於西元一四七七-一四九七年間),浙江鄞縣人。字廷振,號樂愚,一作樂漁。花鳥初學邊文進,後摹唐宋諸名家筆,始臻其妙。弘治(西元一四八八-一五○五年)間被徵值仁智殿,為錦衣衛指揮使。 畫的是浮萍落花。石岸上棲雙鴛:一打盹,一看守著。筆墨老辣而不放肆,惟較呂氏一般的筆法強調提頓。至於佈景看來似很隨意,但實在是用心思經營過的。 &*Mandarin Ducks Lü Chi (fl. ca. 1477-1497) Ming Dynasty Lü Chi, style name T’ing-chen sobriquet Yao-yü, was a native of Yin County, Chekiang. In the genre of flower and bird painting, Lü initially studied the works of the early Ming dynasty painter, Pien Wen-chin. He later emulated the works of the T’ang (618-907) and the Sung (960-1279) masters. He eventually became one of the greatest painters of birds and flowers of the Ming dynasty. During the Hung-chih era (1488-1505), he was summoned to serve in the Hall of Benevolent Wisdom (Jen-chih Tien) in the imperial court. Lü served as a commander in the Imperial Bodyguard, a military unit that also provided sinecures for court painters. Duckweed and fallen flowers float in the water. On the rocky bank two mandarin ducks are perched, one dozing while the other keeps watch. The brushwork is firm and orderly. However, compared to Lü Chi’s usual brushwork, the various endings of strokes are over-emphasized in this painting. Although the scenery appears to have been drawn casually, it is actually very thoughtfully handled.