Four Magpies
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About Reproduction
Bring the timeless beauty of Ma Lin's Four Magpies into your home with a handmade oil painting reproduction. Carefully recreated on canvas by skilled artists using traditional techniques, this piece captures the delicate brushwork, subtle light, and vibrant color of the original masterpiece. With museum-level quality and rich texture, it brings elegance and artistic depth to any space. Enjoy free shipping and make this masterpiece a part of your personal collection.
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Original Description
Ma Lin's Four Magpies is a captivating masterpiece from China's Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), embodying the refined elegance of imperial court painting. Against a misty, ink-washed backdrop, four magpies come alive with astonishing realism—one swoops downward while others perch on flowering branches, their glossy feathers rendered with delicate brushstrokes. The composition balances lively movement with serene emptiness, reflecting the Taoist harmony between nature and void. As a court artist serving Emperor Ningzong, Ma Lin inherited his father Ma Yuan's iconic "one-corner" style, concentrating detail in the lower left while leaving vast poetic space. This work exemplifies xieyi (freehand) bird-and-flower painting, elevating a simple subject into meditative artistry through sublimely controlled spontaneity. Treasured as a zenith of Song dynasty realism, it influenced centuries of East Asian nature painting with its fusion of technical precision and philosophical depth.
For modern spaces, Four Magpies brings classical tranquility with dynamic energy. In a minimalist study or office, a medium-sized reproduction (around 80x50cm) creates a focal point above a wooden console or low bookshelf, its subdued inks harmonizing with neutral walls and natural textures. The painting's vertical format suits narrow walls beside floor-to-ceiling windows, where sunlight echoes its ethereal atmosphere. Pair it with rough linen textiles and celadon ceramics to enhance its organic quality, or contrast its antiquity with clean-lined modernist furniture for balance. In living rooms, its monochromatic palette complements slate grays or warm beiges, while the magpies' movement energizes symmetrical layouts. For impactful display, choose a matte rice-paper textured frame echoing traditional handscroll mounts, ensuring the artwork's spiritual resonance remains undisturbed by glossy finishes.
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Lead Time & Shipping
When you order this oil painting replica, it typically takes 2-3 weeks to paint. If the artwork is more complex, it might need a little more time to ensure the best quality. Once it's ready, we'll send you a photo for your approval. After you give the green light, we'll ship it to you for free.
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Return & Refund
We believe in the quality of our hand-painted oil painting reproductions, and your satisfaction is our priority. If for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we offer a 45-day return policy. You can return your artwork within 45 days of receipt and receive a full refund. Please note that the artwork must be returned in the original packaging and in the same condition as it was received.
