Immortals collecting fungus in the mountain

An Immortal carrying a sprig of lingzhi fungus walks up a mountain path, followed by his youthful attendant hauling a sack, probably filled with the fungus of immortality. Such scenes were popular during the 1700s, and there are many extant examples of miniature mountains showing scenes of immortal activities.
The deep crevices and overlapping mountains give the feeling of a monumental Chinese landscape painting. The piece has all the features of a Qing dynasty miniature mountain: a gnarled pine tree leans from the left, flanked by an upside-down wutong tree clinging to a cliff; steps disappearing into a cave leads one's eye into the scene, and a stream rushes out from a cave below.
A pair of cranes appears in the back—one flapping its wings, the other bending down to drink from the stream. Two hoary pines with exposed roots flank the scene.
Under magnification, the surface of the rock presents numerous specks of blue, an indication that the lapis lazuli had been dyed to bring out the highlights.