A large painting of herons and flowers


Signed Li Tang, cyclically dated to the Yihai year corresponding to 1899 and of the periodInk and colour on silk, depicting eight white herons, one in flight, amidst a riverscape with various flowers, on the top right corner a poetic inscription with signature and seals of the artist. 246cm wide (96 7/8in) x 86cm (33 7/8in) high.
|己亥年（1899年）李堂款 一路富貴 設色絹本The egret is often compared to an honest and incorruptible official because of its clean, white feathers. Egrets have been admired by poets such as Du Fu 杜甫 (712-770) and can combine with numerous flowers to create various auspicious meanings. In the present painting, egrets combine with peonies. Egrets (lu 鷺) form the pun for 'all the way' (yi lu 一路). Together with peonies, also known as the flower of wealth and honour (fugui 富貴), they create the rebus for 'wealth and honour all the way' (yilu fugui 一路富貴).