Classic Chinese Paintings: Tang Dynasty (618–907)


 

Yan Liben (600-673) 閻立本


Yan Liben, Wade-Giles romanization Yen Li-pen (born c. 600—died 673), one of the most famous Chinese figure painters in the early years of the Tang dynasty (618–907).

Yan was a high official within the imperial court, but his fame derives from his skill as a painter. He is recorded as having painted Buddhist and Daoist subjects and as having received various imperial commissions; but among the extant works attributed to him, the most important is the hand scroll Portraits of the Emperors, which depicts a series of emperors selected from about the preceding 800 years of history (only the last seven of the portraits are original; the first six were copies of earlier works). Yan Liben has imbued them with subtly defined characters through a tightly controlled line and limited use of colour. His brother, Yan Lide (閻立德), was also a famous official and painter. (www.britannica.com)

 

Thirteen Emperors Scroll by Yan Liben. 古帝王图 (十三帝图)

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The picture painted of thirteen Chinese emperors. From right to left they are: 1. Emperor Han Zhao, 2. Emperor Guangwu of Han, 3. Emperor Wen of Wei, 4. Emperor Da of Eastern Wu, 5. Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han, 6. Emperor Wu of Jin, 7. Emperor Xuan of Chen, 8. Emperor Wen of Chen, 9. Emperor Fei of Chen, 10. Emperor Houzhu of Chen, 11. Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, 12. Emperor Wen of Sui and 13. Emperor Yang of Sui. Thirteen Emperors Scroll is held in Boston, Museum of the Fine Arts.
古帝王圖,又稱歷代帝王圖、列帝圖、十三帝圖、古列帝圖卷、古帝皇圖卷,是由中國初唐時期畫家閻立本所繪畫的大型絹畫。畫卷的尺寸為51.3×531厘米。 該畫卷描畫了十三位中國帝王,他們分別是:1. 漢昭帝、2. 漢光武帝劉秀、3. 魏文帝曹丕、4. 昭烈帝劉備、5. 吳大帝孫權、6. 晉武帝司馬炎、7. 南陳文帝陳蒨、8. 南陳廢帝陳伯宗、9. 南陳宣帝陳頊、10. 南陳後主陳叔寶、11. 北周武帝宇文邕、12. 隋文帝楊堅, 和 13. 隋煬帝楊廣。 目前该画卷被收藏在美国波士顿的波士顿美术馆。

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org --> upload.wikimedia.org


 

Emperor Zhao of Han 漢昭帝

Emperor Zhao of Han

#1: Emperor Zhao of Han (94 –74 B.C.)

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Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of Han 漢光武帝

Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of Han

#2: Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of Han (5 B.C.–57 A.D.)

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Emperor Wen of Wei 魏文帝

Emperor Wen of Wei

#3: Emperor Wen of Wei (187–226)

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Emperor Da of Eastern Wu 吳大帝 (吳主孫權)

Emperor Da of Eastern Wu

#4: Emperor Da of Eastern Wu (182–252)

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Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han 漢昭烈帝 (蜀主劉備)

Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han

#5: Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han (162–223)

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Emperor Wu of Jin 晉武帝

Emperor Wu of Jin

#6: Emperor Wu of Jin (236–290)

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Emperor Xuan of Chen 陳宣帝

Emperor Xuan of Chen

#7: Emperor Xuan of Chen (530–582)

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Emperor Wen of Chen 陳文帝

Emperor Wen of Chen

#8: Emperor Wen of Chen (522–566)

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Emperor Fei of Chen 陳廢帝

Emperor Fei of Chen

#9: Emperor Fei of Chen (554–570)

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Emperor Houzhu of Chen 陳後主

Emperor Houzhu of Chen

#10: Emperor Houzhu of Chen (553–604)

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Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou 北周武帝

Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou

#11: Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (543–578)

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Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian) 隋文帝 (楊堅)

Emperor Wen of Sui

#12: Emperor Wen of Sui (541–604)

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Emperor Yang of Sui 隋煬帝

Emperor Yang of Sui

#13: Emperor Yang of Sui (569–618)

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org








 

Tribute Bearers by Yan Liben and Yan Lide. 職貢圖 (宋摹本)

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Song Dynasty copy of original Tang scroll by Yan Liben. National Palace Museum, Taipei.

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Emperor Taizong giving audience to Ludongzan the ambassador of Tibet 步辇图 (宋摹本)

Emperor Taizong giving audience to Ludongzan the ambassador of Tibet

Emperor Taizong giving audience to Ludongzan the ambassador of Tibet
《步辇图》贞观十五年(641)唐太宗下嫁文成公主与吐蕃王松赞干布联姻事件。描绘唐太宗坐在步辇上接见迎亲使者禄东赞. 现藏于北京故宫博物院

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

Xiao Yi Trying to Swipe the Lanting Scroll 蕭翼賺蘭亭圖,

Xiao Yi Trying to Swipe the Lanting Scroll 蕭翼賺蘭亭圖

Xiao Yi Trying to Swipe the Lanting Scroll,
Song copy of Tang scroll. National Palace Museum, Taipei
《萧翼赚兰亭图》為唐代画家阎立本根据何延之的《兰亭记》故事所作。描绘御史萧翼从王羲之第七代传人的弟子袁辩才的手中将有「天下第一行书」之稱的《兰亭集序》骗取到手献给唐太宗的故事。画的是萧翼和袁辩才索画,萧翼洋洋得意,老和尚辩才张口结舌,失神落魄;旁有二仆在茶炉上备茶;各人物表情刻画入微。

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org