吕纪为明代院体花鸟画的代表人物,他的这幅《牡丹白鹇图》上部刻画斜出的数枝桃枝,桃枝上面盛开朵朵桃花,粉白可人。三只鸟雀栖于枝干,姿态各异,唧喳鸣叫,充满闹春的活泼之意。下部湖石间有白、红牡丹竞相争艳。立于湖石上的白鹇成为画面中心,它双目圆睁,俯看石下雉鸟,其尾羽在牡丹衬托下显得华美劲健。整个画面营造出喜庆欢快、吉祥富贵的气息,体现出典型的皇室审美趣味。
As a representative figure of academy-oriented flower and bird painting in Ming Dynasty,LV Ji’sPeony and Silver Pheasantportrays several branches with white peach blossoms, three birds perching on the branches tweeting with much vitality,white and red peonies growing from lake stones. A silver pheasant standing on the lake surface centers the frame, with eyes wide open overlooking pheasant birds. Its tail feathers are much beautiful and graceful under the peony. The entire painting creates a happy and auspicious atmosphere, reflecting a typical royal aesthetic taste.