Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a large number of vernacular paintings were made by studio artists active in cities, especially in the Jiangnan or Yangtze delta region. These paintings usually depict daily life in detail and meet practical needs - to be hung as decoration in the home, or to be presented as celebration of public holidays or domestic occasions. These paintings contrast sharply with the works of literati painters', who insisted on spontaneity and a distinct personal style. Gu Jianlong appears to have been a pivotal figure in studio art. This painting depicts a garden as the background for the leisure and gracious living of the Chinese gentry, represented by elegant and richly dressed ladies. A plaintain tree is placed in the centre of the garden, while various potted plants are displayed on a low table. Buildings with large open spaces allow people to enoy the garden easily.