洛阳牡丹甲天下The Peonies of Luoyang, First Under Heaven

Large peonies crowd the upper part of the scroll, shading from deep crimson to a pink that is nearly white; many petals are left pale at the edge, which makes them light and fresh. Their stamens are laid on in thick golden yellow, with touches of mineral green at the centre. Upright stems carry dark green leaves mixed with a few ochre ones, scattered with lively dots of green. Below, a garden rock is splashed in with pale ink, its lit faces left as bare paper, and beside it a single red peony keeps company with several pink ones, so the scroll moves from crowded above to open below.

The title repeats an old and well-loved saying, that the peonies of Luoyang are the finest under heaven, and through the flower’s splendour praises a time of plenty and peace.

画幅上部大朵牡丹簇拥而开，由深红渐变为粉白，瓣缘多留白，轻盈清丽；花蕊以金黄重彩点出，花心缀以石绿。中段枝干挺立，墨绿叶间杂以赭黄老叶，石绿苔点跳跃其上。下方湖石淡墨泼写，石面留白，若有光照，其旁大红一朵与粉花数朵相伴，上密下疏，章法井然。

“洛阳牡丹甲天下”，乃流传已久之俗谚。借名花之盛，以颂太平繁华之象。