LONG HORIZONTAL PAINTING in ink on dyed silk, depicting orchids amongst rocks; a long poem celebrating the orchids and rocks occupies the upper part of the painting. Signed on the left: Yu Jingxiu, with seal. Inscription on the reverse: Yu Jingxiu lanshi shoujuan, ‘Horizontal scroll, orchids and rocks, by Yu Jingxiu’. China, Qing Dynasty, c. late 18th–19th centuries. A LONG HORIZONTAL PAINTING, INK ON SILK, CHINA, QING DYNASTY, CA. LATE 18TH–19TH CENTURIES. DIM. 40 X 177 CM (15 3/4 X 69 11/16 IN.) NOTE About the artist: Little is known about this artist, whose dates are unknown, apart from what is contained in local archives. A native of Shuangliu County in Sichuan, he was recognised as a Lingongsheng, or ‘imperial scholarship student’, a prestigious status granted to students selected for their excellent results in the preliminary imperial examinations. A pupil of Li Xiangshi, he excelled in Shuhua, combining calligraphy and painting.