SIGNED LU HUI (1851-1920) China, late Qing-/ early Republic period 135 x 64 cm Hibiscus and Mandarin Ducks. Ink and colors on paper, silk mounting. Poetic inscription and signature by the artist: “Painted by Lianfu Lu Hui.” One seal of the artist: “Lu Hui from Wujiang” (Wujiang Lu hui). European private collection, acquired prior to 1990 Lu Hui, style name Lianfu, was from Wujiang in Jiangsu province. He lived in Suzhou and was a famous painter of flowers and birds as well as a connoisseur of art. His flower paintings are mostly in the ‘boneless’ literati style. He lived temporarily in the house of Wu Dacheng (1825-1902), Governor of Hunan and a great art collector, where he learned much about Chinese painting. In 1896 he also did illustrations of Wang Yun’s ‘Chenghua shilue’ for the Qing court. In his later years he painted more in traditionalistic styles Traces of age, wear