Li Difeng Eagle Golden Rooster Axis

[Li Di’s Map of Maple Eagle and Golden Rooster]

The map of Maple Eagle and Golden Rooster, painted by Li Di in the Southern Song Dynasty, is made of silk, colored, 189 cm vertically and 209.5 cm horizontally
This painting, also known as “The Painting of the Eagle Pheasant” or “The Painting of the Eagle Watching the Pheasant”, is a rare giant painting in the Song Dynasty, and was created by Li Di, a court painter of the Southern Song Dynasty. According to the inscription on the upper left, “Li Di’s painting of the third birthday of Qingyuan” is known to have been painted in the second year of Qingyuan (1196) of Song Ningzong
The picture is composed diagonally. The main bird and eagle are placed on the top of the withered branches at the upper left corner, looking down and staring at the pheasant at the lower right corner. The golden pheasant opened its mouth and was fleeing into the grass. The echoing relationship of oblique lines and the dynamics of the golden pheasant running to the outside of the painting create a strong tension and exciting atmosphere. The painter deliberately depicts the eye, beak and claw of the goshawk. The eyes are round, the steel beak is like a hook, and the tip of the claw is buckled into the bark, which not only highlights the fierce and vigorous nature of the eagle, but also emphasizes the cohesion of force and concentration of mind when capturing prey, which can be described as real and vivid. The image of the pheasant is also lifelike, with the posture of running in a hurry, the frightened eyes, the open feathers, especially the movement of kicking out the hind legs and shrinking the feet, which accurately depicts the situation of being eager to escape and difficult to escape from bad luck. It can be seen that the author has a keen insight into the life and the dynamics of capturing the moment and the superb expressiveness of sketching
The painting techniques of the works are also very mature. The birds are neat and delicate, and the colors are light. The traditional paintings of flowers and birds in the courtyard since Cui Bai of the Northern Song Dynasty are more dynamic and business. The trunk of the tree is thick and finely dyed, with mottled spots, showing vigorous quality. Maple leaf, orchid grass and clump bamboo are painted in light ink with thin brush and double hooks. The shape is elastic and dense. The painting method follows the principle of “Xuanhe style”. The mountains and stones are carved with axes, and used as solid brush and heavy ink. The method of the Northern Song Dynasty is also preserved in the recent Li and Tang Dynasties. This picture can be regarded as a masterpiece of the Song Dynasty courtyard flower and bird painting.