Painting study · Ink painting
Lily and Butterflies1300s · Study 1971.132
Liu Shanshou (Chinese, active 1300s)
1300s
Recorded as Hanging scroll; ink on silk, this vertical work measures 58.4 × 160 cm using the museum’s painting dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
The bird is represented in pale ink, probably sketched in before the darker ink was used to finish the rock. Like the butterfly and moth above, his tail feathers echo the bamboo as well as the leaves and petals of the flowers. The Chinese wagtail can connote brotherly love. The daylily was used for various pharmaceutical purposes, especially for deadening pain in childbirth. It was also considered efficacious in relieving grief and aiding in the production of sons. The lily is in fact the real subject of this painting: it is the common symbol for motherly love. Hence, the lingering of the butterfly over a lily can signify a son's love, devotion, and yearning for his mother—the refuge from worldly woes.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
The bird is the Chinese wagtail ( motacilla chinensis ).
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected painting measurement for Lily and Butterflies is 58.4 cm wide and 160 cm high, equivalent to approximately 23.0 × 63.0 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.36:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.93 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 19.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 120.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With Lily and Butterflies in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Hanging scroll; ink on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 58.4 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheesecake | 24 × 48 in | 0.50:1 | $1,099 |
| Riptide | 24 × 48 in | 0.50:1 | $1,199 |
| Graffiti | 30 × 48 in | 0.63:1 | $2,199 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
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