A catalogue of Early Medieval masters
Among the Early Medieval pintores, Wang Wei (699–759) holds the first place, celebrated for Seven and a Half Years Old e Snowy River. Dong Yuan, Zhang Xuan, Yan Liben e 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
Chinês Born in Yongji Pintura de Paisagem Wikipedia, 19 of 32 languages
Wang Wei (王維), nascido por volta de 699 d.C. no condado de Qixian, província de Shanxi, ergue-se como uma figura monumental na história da arte da Dinastia Tang — um testemunho da fusão harmoniosa entre música, poesia, pintura e liderança política.
2of 17
Born in Nanjing Wikipedia, 16 of 32 languages
Mestre da dinastia Tang do Sul, sua vida e sua pincelada emergiram durante um período de profundo florescimento cultural na era das Cinco Dinastias e Dez Reinos. Nascido em Zhongling, no que hoje é o condado de Jinxian, Dong Yuan não era apenas um pintor, mas um oficial cujo profundo envolvimento com o mundo natural ajudou a redefinir a própria essência do Shanshui, ou pintura de paisagem.
3of 17
Chinês Born in Changan Pintura da Dinastia Tang Wikipedia, 10 of 32 languages
Sua obra-prima, “Damas da Corte Preparando Seda Recém-Tecida”, permanece como uma das poucas representações sobreviventes deste momento crucial na vida da corte Tang — um testemunho do patrocínio de Huizong e da habilidade de Zhang Xuan em transmitir tanto o esplendor visual quanto a profunda emoção humana.
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
Dinastia Tang Born in Condado de Qin'an Qinglu Bai Wikipedia, 8 of 32 languages
A paisagem da Dinastia Tang transforma-se sob o pincel de Li Zhaodao. Como filho de Li Sixun, um pintor e nobre patrono, Zhaodao cresceu num ambiente onde as tradições da caligrafia e da pintura eram a linguagem primordial. Eventualmente, ele encontra o seu caminho para a escola de pintura da corte imperial, trabalhando sob o patrocínio do Imperador Huizong de Song.
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 |
|---|---|
| República Popular da China | 3 |
| Han dynasty | 2 |
| Dinastia Han | 1 |
| Liang dynasty | 1 |
| Southern Tang | 1 |
| Song dynasty | 1 |
| 6th século | 1 |
|---|---|
| 7th século | 4 |
| 8th século | 2 |
| 9th século | 2 |
| 10th século | 7 |
Index of artists
Wang WeiChinês · 699–759Dong Yuan934–962Zhang XuanChinês · 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 ZhaodaoDinastia Tang · 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) e Wu Daozi (#5).
The museums holding the most key works of this list are The Palace Museum (6), National Palace Museum (5) e Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).
People's Republic of China: 6 of the 17 pintores in this list were born there, then República Popular da China (3) e Han dynasty (2).
The highest-ranked pintores born in People's Republic of China are Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9), Guan Xiu (#14) e Zhao Chang (#15).
Nanjing: 2 of the pintores in this list were born there.
The earliest-born pintor in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.
Most pintores in this list were born in the 10th século (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.
“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).
Our catalogue holds 38 works by these pintores. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.
Reading room
Further rooms
