Ming Dynasty "Yuan Style"

Author: Shan Guoqiang, Shan Guolin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The term "Academy Style" literally refers to a style or form created by painters from the imperial academy. For example, the typical style established by court painters from the Hanlin Painting and Calligraphy Academy during the Song Dynasty, such as the meticulous and refined artistic style of Emperor Huizong in the Northern Song Dynasty, is known as the "Xuanhe Style." The concise and vigorous landscape paintings of Li Tang, Liu Songnian, Ma Yuan, and Xia Gui during the Southern Song Dynasty are referred to as the "Southern Song Academy Style." This tradition continued into the Ming Dynasty, where the dominant artistic style created by court painters was also called the "Ming Academy Style."
The "Academy Style" is not a designation for a school of painting, but the painters who created this style had relatively close relationships. They worked within the same imperial court or were colleagues, influencing each other, or succeeded one another in a line of inheritance. More importantly, under the unified and strict management of the imperial court, there was a strong tendency toward conformity in creative purposes, subject matter, stylistic forms, and aesthetic tastes. It can be said that the conditions for the formation of the "Academy Style" are very similar to those of a school of painting. Therefore, the term "Academy Style" indeed carries the meaning of a school of painting. This book clarifies the definition of a school of painting, its scope, and its special significance for the study of art history. It also describes the historical and cultural conditions and artistic heritage that contributed to the formation of schools of painting, as well as selected representative works of pioneering figures and important members.