Pine Trees (handscroll)－1

Xiang Shengmo was born in Xiushui (now Jaxing), Zhajiang Province, also known by his courtesy name Kongzhang and literary names Yian, Xushanqiao, and Songtaosanxian. He was the grandson of Xiang Yuanbian, a famous collector in the late Ming dynasty. Xiang Shengmo excelled in landscape painting. He first imitated Wen Zhengming’s paintings and then moved on to the styles in the Song and Yuan periods. He also specialized in flower painting where he loved employing bright colours and a refreshing style. He was equally good at painting pine trees, and the pine trees he painted were famously known as “Xiang‘s pine trees” (xiangsong).