Quails and Bamboo, Attributed to Jin Shi, mid 15th century
Attributed to Jin ShiChinese

Quails and Bamboo

mid 15th century · Painting · 118.1 × 52.5 cm

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Quails and Bamboo” now? Collection: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum

About the painting

Two quails perch on a rock beneath overhanging chrysanthemums at the foot of towering bamboo and fragrant osmanthus. Both the chrysanthemum and osmanthus blossom in autumn, suggesting that this painting was meant to hang during the fall season. Interestingly, a strain of red osmanthus with intense fragrance was developed during the early Ming dynasty at Jin's birthplace.

Read on

Jin, whose signature appears on this work, was born in the Yin district, modern Ningbo, in Zhejiang province. In 1441, he passed the provincial examination and was appointed Secretariat Drafter at the Hall of Literary Splendor (Wenghuadian). He was best known for his calligraphy and paintings of bamboo and rocks, especially those done in the ink-outline style. The careful delineation of form, subject matter, and compositional features seen here are all grounded in Song dynasty (960-1279) flower-and-bird painting. The revival of Song pictorial styles was common during early Ming, especially in Zhejiang province.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Details

Accession number
2002.4.4

In the catalog

Sources

On view at Minneapolis Institute of Art

Museum page