At present, this is the earliest surviving painting by Lu Chih. It dates to 1423, when he was 27. At that time, Lu Chih was teaching at Lake Ch’en when his friend Li Chao-hsiang visited him and presented him with chrysanthemums. Lu painted this work to show his gratitude. This painting represents the great poet-recluse T’ao Yuan-ming (365-427), who spent his days in reclusion gardening, writing, and studying. T’ao felt that such a life was more suitable for him than that of an official, having once served as the magistrate of P’eng-tse (hence the title of this painting). For his integrity and simplicity, T’ao has been venerated ever since by poets and painters. T’ao especially loved the humble chrysanthemum, which stands out by blooming late in the season during autumn and thereby symbolizing the reclusive scholar who blossoms later in life. Lu has shown T’ao seated under pine trees in front of chrysanthemums and holding some blossoms in a state of ease. T’ao, like Lu Chih, did not take reclusion as an excuse for doing nothing, for they both took the opportunity to create. Thus, with regards to chrysanthemums, it was natural for Lu Chih to choose T’ao Yuan-ming as a model. Lu Chih also borrowed the figure of T’ao Yuan-ming in his self-reflective inscription; “Where has the chrysanthemum of T’ao gone?” Painted in dry ink, the coloring in this work is light and elegant for a pure and luminous quality. Though painted in Lu’s youth, the style here already appears quite mature.