Who is the most famous Early Medieval schilder?

Wang Wei (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3).

Who are the top 5 Early Medieval schilders?

Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) en Wu Daozi (#5).

Where are the great works of Early Medieval art today?

The museums holding the most key works of this list are The Palace Museum (6), National Palace Museum (5) en Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).

Which country produced the most Early Medieval schilders?

People's Republic of China: 6 of the 17 schilders in this list were born there, then Volksrepubliek China (3) en Han dynasty (2).

Who are the great Early Medieval schilders of People's Republic of China?

The highest-ranked schilders born in People's Republic of China are Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9), Guan Xiu (#14) en Zhao Chang (#15).

Which city produced the most Early Medieval schilders?

Chang'an: 3 of the schilders in this list were born there.

Who are the pioneers of Early Medieval art?

The earliest-born schilder in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.

When were most Early Medieval schilders born?

Most schilders in this list were born in the 10th eeuw (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.

How did Early Medieval schilders paint?

“It is noted that the painter Zhang Xuan received his formative training under Yan Liben, inheriting a profound understanding of composition and brushwork.” — from our biography of Yan Liben (#4).

Where can I buy Early Medieval art?

Our catalogue holds 38 works by these schilders. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.

A catalogue of Early Medieval masters

Famous Early Medieval Schilders: A Catalogue of 17 Masters

Among the Early Medieval schilders, Wang Wei (699–759) holds the first place, celebrated for Seven and a Half Years Old en Snowy River. Dong Yuan, Zhang Xuan, Yan Liben en Wu Daozi follow. The catalogue spans 17 masters, from Emperor Yuan of Liang (born 508) to Zhao Chang (born 960), across 7 countries.

From the TopImpressionists.com catalogue28 oktober 2026

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.

1Wang Wei
2Dong Yuan
3Zhang Xuan

The collection in brief

Early Medieval: the collection in brief

17Kunstenaars
508–960Geboortejaren
7Landen van geboorte
0Vrouwen
38Werken in onze catalogus

Steden met de meeste geboorten: Chang'an (3), Nanjing (2), Yongji (1), Weifang (1)
Musea met de meeste sleutelwerken: The Palace Museum (6), National Palace Museum (5), Metropolitan Museum of Art (4), Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (3)

Master by master

The catalogue: 17 Early Medieval Schilders

1of 17

Wang Wei 699–759

Chinees Born in Yongji Landschapschilderkunst Wikipedia, 19 of 32 languages

Wang Wei (王維), geboren rond 699 n.Chr. in het district Qixian in de provincie Shanxi, staat als een monumentale figuur in de kunstgeschiedenis van de Tang-dynastie—een levend bewijs van de harmonieuze versmelting van muziek, poëzie, schilderkunst en politiek leiderschap. Wang Wei stamde af van een edele Han-familie die naar het oosten verhuisde naar Puzhou in de provincie Guangdong, op zoek naar welvaart en stabiliteit.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

2of 17

Dong Yuan 934–962

Born in Nanjing Wikipedia, 16 of 32 languages

In de mistige annalen van de Chinese kunstgeschiedenis resoneert weinig naam met zoveel fundamentele autoriteit als Dong Yuan. Als meester van de Zuidelijke Tang-dynastie ontstonden zijn leven en penseelvoering tijdens een periode van diepgaande culturele bloei in het tijdperk van de Vijf Dynastieën en Tien Koninkrijken.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

3of 17

Zhang Xuan 713–755

Chinees Born in Chang'an Tang-dynastie schilderkunst Wikipedia, 10 of 32 languages

Zijn meesterwerk, "Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk", blijft een van de weinige overgeleverde afbeeldingen van dit cruciale moment in het leven aan het Tang-hof—een getuigenis van het mecenaat van keizer Huizong en het vermogen van Zhang Xuan om zowel visuele pracht als diepe menselijke emotie over te brengen.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

4of 17

Yan Liben 600–673

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.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

5of 17

Wu Daozi 680–740

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

Huang Quan 903–965

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

Zhou Wenju 917–975

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.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

8of 17

Li Cheng 919–967

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

Jing Hao 855–915

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

Emperor Yuan of Liang 508–555

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.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

11of 17

Gu Hongzhong 937–975

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.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

12of 17

Li Zhaodao 675–758

Tang-dynastie Born in Qin'an Qinglu Bai Wikipedia, 8 of 32 languages

Het landschap van de Tang-dynastie transformeert onder de penseelstreek van Li Zhaodao. Hij beweegt zich weg van de zachte, gedempte tonen van de Zuidelijke School en kiest in plaats daarvan voor een rijke, lumineuze toepassing van minerale pigmenten. Dit is de essentie van Qinglu Bai, een stijl die wordt gedefinieerd door haar gewicht en haar licht.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

13of 17

Han Huang 723–787

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.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

14of 17

Guan Xiu 832–912

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

Zhao Chang 960–1016

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

Huang Jucai 933–993

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.

Principal works · The hundred celebrated works

17of 17

Zhao Gan

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

Celebrated Early Medieval paintings

Seven and a Half Years Old

Wang Wei

2011 · Song Art Museum, Beijing
The Immortal Paradise Building in the Mountain

Dong Yuan

950 · National Palace Museum, Taipei
Court ladies preparing newly woven silk

Zhang Xuan

China Modern and Contemporary Art Document Research Center, Beijing
Thirteen Emperors Scroll

Yan Liben

650 · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Guanyin

Wu Daozi

1885 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Untitled

Huang Quan

The Palace Museum, Beijing
In the Palace

Zhou Wenju

1133 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Giant

Li Cheng

2019 · Fubon Art Foundation Very Fun Park, Taipei

Chronology

A Early Medieval chronology in paintings

Notes and figures

The catalogue in figures

Geboorteland
People's Republic of China	6
Volksrepubliek China	3
Han dynasty	2
Han-dynastie	1
Liang dynasty	1
Southern Tang	1
Song dynasty	1

Geboortejaar
6th eeuw	1
7th eeuw	4
8th eeuw	2
9th eeuw	2
10th eeuw	7

Musea met hun belangrijkste werken
The Palace Museum	6
National Palace Museum	5
Metropolitan Museum of Art	4
Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art	3
China Modern and Contemporary Art Document Research Center	2
Museum of Fine Arts	2
Song Art Museum	1
Cleveland Museum of Art	1

Index of artists

List of the 17 Early Medieval schilders

1Wang WeiChinees · 699–759
2Dong Yuan934–962
3Zhang XuanChinees · 713–755
4Yan LibenChinese · 600–673
5Wu DaoziTang dynasty · 680–740
6Huang Quan903–965
7Zhou WenjuChinese · 917–975
8Li ChengChinese · 919–967
9Jing Hao855–915
10Emperor Yuan of LiangLiang dynasty · 508–555
11Gu HongzhongChinese · 937–975
12Li ZhaodaoTang-dynastie · 675–758
13Han HuangChinese · 723–787
14Guan XiuChinese · 832–912
15Zhao ChangChinese · 960–1016
16Huang JucaiChinese · 933–993
17Zhao GanChinese ·

The visitor asks

Frequently asked questions

Who is the most famous Early Medieval schilder?
Wang Wei (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3).
Who are the top 5 Early Medieval schilders?
Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) en Wu Daozi (#5).
Where are the great works of Early Medieval art today?
The museums holding the most key works of this list are The Palace Museum (6), National Palace Museum (5) en Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).
Which country produced the most Early Medieval schilders?
People's Republic of China: 6 of the 17 schilders in this list were born there, then Volksrepubliek China (3) en Han dynasty (2).
Who are the great Early Medieval schilders of People's Republic of China?
The highest-ranked schilders born in People's Republic of China are Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9), Guan Xiu (#14) en Zhao Chang (#15).
Which city produced the most Early Medieval schilders?
Chang'an: 3 of the schilders in this list were born there.
Who are the pioneers of Early Medieval art?
The earliest-born schilder in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.
When were most Early Medieval schilders born?
Most schilders in this list were born in the 10th eeuw (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.
How did Early Medieval schilders paint?
“It is noted that the painter Zhang Xuan received his formative training under Yan Liben, inheriting a profound understanding of composition and brushwork.” — from our biography of Yan Liben (#4).
Where can I buy Early Medieval art?
Our catalogue holds 38 works by these schilders. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.

Reading room

Essays on TopImpressionists.com

10 Iconic Masterpieces That Defined the Early Medieval Era Whispers of the Soul: Discovering the Sacred Beauty and Intricate Devotion of Early Medieval Art

Further rooms

Continue the visit

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