Shen Zongqian--Painting Language Illustrated by Famous Chinese Calligraphers and Painters: An Illustrated Explanation of the Artistic Language of Famous Chinese Calligraphers and Painters

Author: Zhu Xiaohong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Shen Zongqian (1736—1820) was a painter of the Qing Dynasty, styled Xiyuan, styled Jiezhou, also styled Yanwan Laogu, a native of Wucheng (now Huzhou), Zhejiang. He was skilled in calligraphy. His paintings of landscapes and figures were lifelike and exquisite. In his later years, he used only dry ink. He wrote Jiezhou Xuehua Bian, a four-volume work: Volume 1 and 2 Landscape, Volume 3 Portraiture, and Volume 4 Essays on Figures. This art theory defined "portraiture" as the foundation of inheriting ancient methods, detailing the principles of "capturing the spirit" and "simpifying the form" in figure painting, as well as the criteria for "brushwork and ink" and "color application." He advocated that the foundation for capturing the spirit lies in the accuracy of form, and that the study of ancient masters' brushwork and observation of nature's vitality should serve as the basis for technical expression, aiming for the creation of figure paintings that achieve "method governed by the heart," "seeking methods beyond the rules," and "the harmonious fusion of mind and hand." Shen Zongqian's Jiezhou Xuehua Bian from the Qing Dynasty, particularly the volume on Portraiture, is a relatively comprehensive and systematic treatise on figure painting in ancient art theory. This art theory defined "portraiture" as the foundation of inheriting ancient methods and advocated that learners should diligently study the excellent traditions of the past, abandoning those "bewildering and showy brushwork" and figure painting styles that are lifeless and fail to capture the essence of life. Instead, they should strive to create "portraiture" masterpieces. This book is accompanied by nearly 200 classic figure paintings, allowing readers to gain a more intuitive understanding of the essence of figure painting.