宮女鸚鵡

Two ladies gaze fixedly at a parrot atop a corner of a railing. The scene suggests a narrative, yet no poem or literary source has yet been identified. The lithe, flowing lines of their beautiful costumes nicely complement the lovely faces of the women, creating an image of rich elegance.

The painting bears the spurious signature and seal of Qiu Ying (active early 1500s), who was famous for painting beautiful women. The style of the painting is closer to that of imperial court artists of the Kangxi 康熙 reign (1662–1722).

Some Chinese collectors and dealers in the past would add the signature or seals of a famous artist to an unsigned work that was in the style of that artist.