IN THE STYLE OF ZHANG XIONG (1803-1886) China 126 x 63,5 cm Cassia, Chrysanthemums, and Mountain Birds. Silk mounting, ink and colors on paper. Inscription and signature by the artist: “When the garden is full of scenting flowers, all the birds are happy. For the elegant judgement of Mister Heliang, painted by Zixiang Zhang Xiong.” One seal of the artist: „Seal of Zhang Xiong” (Zhang Xiong zhi yin). From a European private collection, acquired prior to 1990 Zhang Xiong, style name Zixiang, was from Jiaxing in Zhejiang province. He lived in Shanghai and was a noted painter of flowers and birds following Zhou Zhimian (ca. 1600) and Wang Wu (1632-1690). He also did seal carvings and was an art collector. This painting is a copy of the painting ‘Cassia, Chrysanthemums, and Mountain Birds’ by the Ming court painter Lü Ji (active ca. 1500) which is now kept in the Palace Museum in Peking Traces of age, wear