Pair of Phoenixes on a Paulownia Tree
Maker(s) Artist: Bian Luan, active late 8th-early 9th century 
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk 
Dimensions: H x W (image): 159.1 x 90.5 cm (62 5/8 x 35 5/8 in) 
Type: Painting 
Origin: China 
Topic: phoenix, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), China, Chinese Art 
Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer 
Date: 16th century 
Period: Ming dynasty 
Accession Number: F1919.112 
Data Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

边鸾

　　边鸾　生卒未详，京兆(今西安)人。唐德宗时曾官右卫长史。朱景玄《唐朝名画录》称他“最长于花鸟”，而且画“草木、蜂蝶、雀、蝉，并居妙品”，“朱色鲜明”，“下笔轻利，用色鲜明，穷羽毛之变态，夺花卉之芳妍”。北宋董逌评其“精于设色，如良工之无斧鑿痕”（《图绘宝鉴》）；元人夏文彦赞其花卉“花色红淡，若浥雨疏风，光色艳发”。苏轼在《书鄢陵王主簿所画折枝》中也称赞边鸾花鸟画“天工与清新”，所谓“边鸾雀写生，赵昌花传神。何如此两幅，疏澹含精匀。谁言一点红，解寄无边春。”
　　贞元（785一804）年间，德宗李适命他画新罗国进贡的孔雀，因作一正一背，画面“翠彩生动，余羽辉灼”，似能发出“清声”。曾往贺应寺壁画《牡丹》，又在资圣寺宝塔上画四面花鸟，尤以药上菩萨顶画《戎葵》为佳。花鸟画在边鸾手中独立成科，在绘画史上有其独特地位。边鸾花鸟画极一时之盛，当时随其学画者不少，其中较有名者为陈庶，擅长色彩运用，所画百卉，极为鲜艳，世人并称为“边、陈”。
　　边鸾画迹有《牡丹图》，著录于《广川画跋》。《踯烛孔雀图》、《梅花鹡鸰图》、《梨花鹁鸽图》等三十三件，著录于《宣和画谱》；传世作品有《梅花山茶雪雀图》轴。　

Two Doves on a Flowering Branch
Maker(s) Artist: Bian Luan, active late 8th-early 9th century 
Medium: Ink and color on paper 
Dimensions: H x W (image): 60.1 x 39 cm (23 11/16 x 15 3/8 in) 
Type: Painting 
Origin: China 
Topic: flower, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), dove, China, Chinese Art 
Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer 
Date: 14th-15th century 
Period: Ming dynasty 
Accession Number: F1916.523 
Data Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Magpies, Waxwing, Hibiscus and Cinnamon
Maker(s) Artist: Bian Luan, active late 8th-early 9th century 
Medium: Ink and color on silk 
Dimensions: H x W: 171.6 x 120.8 cm (67 9/16 x 47 9/16 in) 
Type: Painting 
Origin: China 
Topic: hibiscus, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), China, magpie, Chinese Art 
Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer 
Date: ca. 1400 
Period: Ming dynasty 
Accession Number: F1916.67 
Data Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Bird on a Flowering Branch
Maker(s) Artist: Bian Luan, active late 8th-early 9th century 
Medium: Ink and color on silk 
Dimensions: H x W (image): 60.5 x 34.8 cm (23 13/16 x 13 11/16 in) 
Type: Painting 
Origin: China 
Topic: bird, flower, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), butterfly, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), China, Chinese Art 
Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer 
Date: 17th-19th century 
Period: Ming or Qing dynasty 
Accession Number: F1909.183 
Data Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Hawk on a Rock
Maker(s) Artist: Bian Luan, active late 8th-early 9th century 
Medium: Ink and color on silk 
Dimensions: H x W (image): 107.4 x 62.1 cm (42 5/16 x 24 7/16 in) 
Type: Painting 
Origin: China 
Topic: bird, eagle, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), China, Chinese Art 
Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer 
Date: ca. 1500 
Period: Ming dynasty 
Accession Number: F1909.186 
Data Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Ducks, Torrent, and Overhanging Rocks
Maker(s) Artist: Lü Ji, ca. 1420-ca. 1505, Bian Luan, active late 8th-early 9th century 
Medium: Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on silk 
Dimensions: H x W (image): 158.2 x 100.3 cm (62 5/16 x 39 1/2 in) 
Type: Painting 
Origin: China 
Topic: duck, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), China, Chinese Art 
Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer 
Date: 16th century 
Period: Ming dynasty 
Accession Number: F1916.134 
Data Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery