A catalogue of Early Medieval masters
Among the Early Medieval malere, Wang Wei (699–759) holds the first place, celebrated for Seven and a Half Years Old og Snowy River. Dong Yuan, Zhang Xuan, Yan Liben og Wu Daozi follow. The catalogue spans 17 masters, from Emperor Yuan of Liang (born 508) to Zhao Chang (born 960), across 7 countries.
About this catalogue. This catalogue gathers the artists whose works our collection records as Early Medieval, ordered by our fame ranking. Artists born after 1955 with no Wikidata record await verification. Beside each name, the number of our 32 languages in which Wikipedia devotes an article to the artist.
The collection in brief
Master by master
1of 17
Kinesisk Born in Yongji Landskabsmaleri Wikipedia, 19 of 32 languages
Wang Wei (王維), født omkring år 699 i Qixian County, Shanxi-provinsen, står som en monumental skikkelse i Tang-dynastiets kunsthistorie —et vidnesbyrd om den harmoniske sammensmeltning af musik, poesi, maleri og politisk lederskab. Wang Wei var af ædel Han-slægt, der søgte mod øst til Puzhou i Guangdong-provinsen i jagten på velstand og stabilitet.
2of 17
Born in Nanjing Wikipedia, 16 of 32 languages
I den tågede annaler af kinesisk kunsthistorie resonerer få navne med så stor grundlæggende autoritet som Dong Yuan. Født i Zhongling, i det nuværende Jinxian County, var Dong Yuan ikke blot en maler, men en embedsmand, hvis dybe engagement i den naturlige verden var med til at redefinere selve essensen af Shanshui, eller landskabsmaleri.
3of 17
Kinesisk Born in Xi'an Tang-dynastiets maleri Wikipedia, 10 of 32 languages
Zhang Xuan’s artistic output during the Tang Dynasty cemented his place among China's most celebrated painters. His influence extended beyond individual paintings; he helped shape the aesthetic sensibilities of subsequent generations, fostering a tradition of elegant realism that would define Chinese art for centuries to come. His masterpiece, “ Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk,” remains one of the few surviving depictions of this pivotal moment in Tang court life—a testament to Huizong’s patronage and Zhang Xuan’s ability to convey both visual splendor and profound human emotion.
4of 17
Chinese Born in Chang'an Early Tang Dynasty realism Wikipedia, 13 of 32 languages
The Thirteen Emperors Scroll remains a profound piece of history, containing portraits that span from the Han dynasty to the Sui dynasty.
5of 17
Tang dynasty Born in Chang'an Realistic techniques and landscape painting Wikipedia, 11 of 32 languages
His work has been featured in television presentations, such as the 2004-5 production The Presentation of Buddha.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
6of 17
Wikipedia, 10 of 32 languages
This movement reflected the shifting centers of power during the Five Dynasties and Song periods.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
7of 17
Chinese Born in Nanjing Tang Dynasty Figure Painting Wikipedia, 7 of 32 languages
A defining milestone of his career occurred on New Year’s Day in 947, during a grand banquet held by Emperor Yuanzong of Southern Tang.
8of 17
Chinese Born in Weifang Landscape painting Wikipedia, 11 of 32 languages
Li Cheng's most celebrated work, “Giant” (Zhong Tu), exemplifies his artistic innovations. The painting depicts a towering pine tree standing alone on a barren mountain peak, shrouded in mist. Artists such as Guo Xi, Fan Sang, and Dong Yuan all drew inspiration from Li Cheng’s work, further disseminating his artistic innovations throughout the art community.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
9of 17
Born in Qinshui County Wikipedia, 8 of 32 languages
This rugged, monumental approach became the standard for the Northern Song period, establishing a lineage of greatness that included his pupil Guan Tong and the legendary Li Cheng.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
10of 17
Liang dynasty Wikipedia, 7 of 32 languages
Emperor Yuan of Liang was not a visual artist; he was a ruler and a scholar. While he was a significant patron and collector of literature, he did not produce paintings or visual works himself.
11of 17
Chinese Wikipedia, 8 of 32 languages
This surviving version is held within the Palace Museum in Beijing, where it continues to reveal the intricate details of a lost age.
12of 17
Tang-dynastiet Born in Qin'an Qinglu Bai Wikipedia, 8 of 32 languages
Tang-dynastiets landskaber forandrer sig under Li Zhaodaos pensel. Han bevæger sig væk fra den Sydlige Skoles bløde, dæmpede toner og vælger i stedet en tung, lysende påføring af mineralpigmenter. Dette er essensen af Qinglu Bai, en stil defineret ved sin tyngde og sit lys.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
13of 17
Chinese Wikipedia, 5 of 32 languages
Han Huang was a Chinese economist and politician of the Tang dynasty. Born in 723, he served as a chancellor during the reign of the Emperor Dezong. His career was marked by significant roles, including serving as the prefect of Jin Prefecture, the prefect of Su Prefecture, and the governor of Zhejiang Circuit.
14of 17
Chinese Born in Lanxi Tang Dynasty Wikipedia, 3 of 32 languages
Early Life & Education: Born in Lanxi, Zhejiang province, Guanxiū’s formative years were dedicated to monastic studies, shaping his worldview and artistic sensibilities.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
15of 17
Chinese Born in Guanghan Wikipedia, 5 of 32 languages
Though the specific details of his daily life remain obscured by the centuries, his influence persisted through the Song dynasty.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
16of 17
Chinese Born in Chengdu Wikipedia, 4 of 32 languages
Born around 933, Huang Jucai lived through the shifting landscapes of the Later Shu and Song dynasties.
17of 17
Chinese Jiangnan style Wikipedia, 3 of 32 languages
His work is characterized by a focus on material details, including: To achieve the appearance of soft, thick snowflakes on silk, the artist used a technique of blowing white pigment through a screen to lightly project it onto the surface. The resulting imagery portrays the harsh conditions of fishermen shivering in their boats or under shelters amidst the falling snow.
Principal works · The hundred celebrated works
Plates
Chronology
Notes and figures
| People's Republic of China | 6 |
|---|---|
| Folkerepublikken Kina | 3 |
| Han dynasty | 2 |
| Han-dynastiet | 1 |
| Liang dynasty | 1 |
| Southern Tang | 1 |
| Song dynasty | 1 |
| 6th århundrede | 1 |
|---|---|
| 7th århundrede | 4 |
| 8th århundrede | 2 |
| 9th århundrede | 2 |
| 10th århundrede | 7 |
Index of artists
Wang WeiKinesisk · 699–759Dong Yuan934–962Zhang XuanKinesisk · 713–755Yan LibenChinese · 600–673Wu DaoziTang dynasty · 680–740Huang Quan903–965Zhou WenjuChinese · 917–975Li ChengChinese · 919–967Jing Hao855–915Emperor Yuan of LiangLiang dynasty · 508–555Gu HongzhongChinese · 937–975Li ZhaodaoTang-dynastiet · 675–758Han HuangChinese · 723–787Guan XiuChinese · 832–912Zhao ChangChinese · 960–1016Huang JucaiChinese · 933–993Zhao GanChinese · The visitor asks
Wang Wei (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3).
Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) og Wu Daozi (#5).
The museums holding the most key works of this list are The Palace Museum (6), National Palace Museum (5) og Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).
People's Republic of China: 6 of the 17 malere in this list were born there, then Folkerepublikken Kina (3) og Han dynasty (2).
The highest-ranked malere born in People's Republic of China are Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9), Guan Xiu (#14) og Zhao Chang (#15).
Nanjing: 2 of the malere in this list were born there.
The earliest-born maler in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.
Most malere in this list were born in the 10th århundrede (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.
“This mentorship instilled in him a profound understanding of brushwork and composition—techniques that would become hallmarks of his distinctive style.” — from our biography of Zhang Xuan (#3).
Our catalogue holds 38 works by these malere. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.
Reading room
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