Complete Collection of Chinese Painting (5): Five Dynasties, Song, Liao, and Jin - Volume 4: Complete Collection of Chinese Art Classification

Author: Ancient Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Appraisal Group
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-06-01
Features: The Complete Collection of Chinese Painting is the result of an eight-year nationwide appraisal conducted by the Ancient Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Appraisal Group, composed of renowned experts such as Xie Zhiliu, Qi Gong, Xu Bangda, Yang Renkai, Liu Jiuan, Fu Xinián, and Xie Chensheng. The Complete Collection of Chinese Painting is a large-scale, full-color illustrated series comprising 30 volumes, featuring over 6,600 exquisite works of Chinese painting from the Warring States to the Qing Dynasty. It includes all the selected masterpieces from the group's nationwide appraisals, as well as important treasures held by museums outside mainland China. The series is organized chronologically by Chinese dynasties, with works arranged by the lifespan of the artists. Volume 1 covers works from the Warring States to the Tang Dynasty; Volumes 2–6 include works from the Five Dynasties, Song, Liao, and Jin periods; Volumes 7–9 feature Yuan Dynasty works; Volumes 10–18 present Ming Dynasty works; and Volumes 19–30 collect Qing Dynasty works. The Complete Collection of Chinese Painting is published in a small 8-page format, bound in high-quality, uncoated copperplate paper with full-color printing. The first volume features a general introduction by Mr. Xie Zhiliu, followed by specialized essays for each of the five historical periods—Warring States–Tang, Five Dynasties–Song–Liao–Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing—that provide in-depth analysis of the development of painting during those eras. Each work is accompanied by a detailed caption describing its form, dimensions, collection location, subject matter, creation date, artistic characteristics, inscriptions, and bibliographic references.
This volume includes 72 works, all anonymous in terms of the artist's name. Some of these works were originally attributed to famous masters such as Dong Yuan and Li Cheng, but expert research has determined that their styles do not align with the Tang or Northern Song periods; instead, they are believed to be imitations by Southern Song Dynasty artists, yet they hold significant artistic value. These works are rich in content and diverse in form, particularly in their portrayal of patriotic sentiments, moral character, and labor scenes in figure paintings. They serve as valuable visual resources for later generations studying the humanistic and historical aspects of the Southern Song Dynasty.