明 Ming dynasty
軸 紙本設色 Hanging scroll, ink and colors on paper
79.7cm (H) x 57.2cm (W)
明宣宗(1399-1435年)姓朱，名瞻基，年號宣德。主政十年，不僅締造了「仁宣之治」，亦工書畫。此幅畫公雞與母雞帶領幼雛在草地上覓食，呼哺育幼之情，躍然紙上。主題取材自日常生活，宣揚家庭倫理，具有教化功能。畫雞筆法工謹細膩，柔和勾線參以乾筆皴擦，並敷染白粉，醒目突出，有宋人工筆寫生餘韻。但畫風與宣宗不似，推斷應出自明代院畫家之手。
Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming dynasty had the common name Zhu Zhanji, and the reign name Xuande. On the throne for ten years, he not only brought about a golden age known as the “Rule of Ren and Xuan”, but was also known as a gifted painter and calligrapher. This painting depicts a rooster and hen taking chicks on the grass to peck for food, making an image of parental care in the animal world come to life before our eyes. This subject matter is a common one in the countryside, but it also promotes the idea of proper familial roles, thereby having a didactic function as well. The brushwork used for the chickens and the soft lines, combined with dry texturing, are meticulous. White powder was then added to make them stand out, revealing the heritage of fine-line brushwork and “sketching from life” from the Sung dynasty. The style here, however, differs from that of Emperor Xuanzong, which suggests that the work was done by a Ming dynasty court artist.
