Early Medieval: original voices
Wang Wei (699–759) is the most famous Early Medieval slikar, whose singular vision gave us Seven and a Half Years Old in Winter Landscape. Next stand Dong Yuan, Zhang Xuan, Yan Liben in Wu Daozi. These 17 slikarji, from Emperor Yuan of Liang (born 508) to Zhao Chang (born 960), came from 7 countries.
Our selection. Artists whose works our catalogue attaches to Early Medieval, in the order of our fame ranking. Artists born after 1955 with no Wikidata identifier stay out until verified. The Wikipedia figure counts our 32 languages with an article on the artist.
In brief
One artist at a time
1of 17
Kitajska Born in Yongji Pejaška slika Wikipedia in 19/32 languages
Njegov oče, ki je prepoznal njegov neizmeren potencial, mu je zagotovil obsežno izobrazbo, s katero ga je pripravil na zahtevne državne izpite – pot, ki so jo v času Tangove dinastije sledili skoraj vsi ambiciozni uradniki.
2of 17
Born in Nanjing Wikipedia in 16/32 languages
One of his most celebrated masterpieces, The Xiao and Xiang Rivers, serves as a testament to his compositional brilliance.
3of 17
Kitajec Born in Čangan Slikarstvo dinastije Tang Wikipedia in 10/32 languages
Zhang Xuan (713–755), ključna osebnost v umetnosti dinastije Tang, stoji v samem vrhu najbolj slavnih slikarjev svojega obdobja, alongside Yan Libena. Njegovo vrhunsko delo, "Dvorne damne pri pripravljanju novo tkanega sutra", ostaja eden redkih preživelih prikazov tega ključnega trenutka v življenje Tangovga dvora – spomenik pokroviteljstvu cesarja Huizonga in Zhang Xuanovi sposobnosti, da izrazi tako vizualno veličastnost kot globoko človeško čustvo.
4of 17
Chinese Born in Chang'an Early Tang Dynasty realism Wikipedia in 13/32 languages
The weight of Yan Liben's contribution is most clearly seen in the surviving fragments of his vision.
5of 17
Tang dynasty Born in Chang'an Realistic techniques and landscape painting Wikipedia in 11/32 languages
His work has been featured in television presentations, such as the 2004-5 production The Presentation of Buddha.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
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Wikipedia in 10/32 languages
Throughout his life, Huang Quan moved through the imperial painting academies of the Former Shu, Later Shu, and Song dynasties.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
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Chinese Born in Nanjing Tang Dynasty Figure Painting Wikipedia in 7/32 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 in 11/32 languages
This monumental painting, now housed in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, is a testament to his mastery of technique and his ability to evoke a powerful emotional response. The painting depicts a towering pine tree standing alone on a barren mountain peak, shrouded in mist. His loose brushwork, atmospheric effects, and emphasis on capturing the overall mood and atmosphere of the natural world became hallmarks of the “Northern Landscape” style—a dominant trend in Chinese painting during the Song Dynasty.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
9of 17
Born in Qinshui County Wikipedia in 8/32 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.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
10of 17
Liang dynasty Wikipedia in 7/32 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 in 8/32 languages
By focusing on the vividness of expression and the weight of personal experience, Gu Hongzhong ensured that the spirit of the Southern Tang court would never be entirely forgotten.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
12of 17
dinastija Tang Born in Qin'an Qinglu Bai Wikipedia in 8/32 languages
Pejzaž dinastije Tang se pod čopičem umetnika Li Zhaodao spreminja. To je bistvo sloga Qinglu Bai, ki ga določata njegova težina in svetloba. Kot sin Li Sixuna, slopika in plemiči zbiratelja, je Zhaodao odrasel v gospodinjstvu, kjer sta bila tradicija kaligrafije in slikarstva primarni jezik.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
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Chinese Wikipedia in 5/32 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 in 3/32 languages
This tumultuous era witnessed the fragmentation of Tang imperial authority, prompting provincial courts to champion artistic traditions—a circumstance that fostered a miniature Tang court in Chengdu where Guanxiū flourished. Early Life & Education: Born in Lanxi, Zhejiang province, Guanxiū’s formative years were dedicated to monastic studies, shaping his worldview and artistic sensibilities.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
15of 17
Chinese Born in Guanghan Wikipedia in 5/32 languages
Though the specific details of his daily life remain obscured by the centuries, his influence persisted through the Song dynasty.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
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Chinese Born in Chengdu Wikipedia in 4/32 languages
Born around 933, Huang Jucai lived through the shifting landscapes of the Later Shu and Song dynasties.
17of 17
Chinese Jiangnan style Wikipedia in 3/32 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.
Signature works · The 100 signature works
Signature works
A timeline
Figures
| People's Republic of China | 7 |
|---|---|
| Činska ljudska republika | 2 |
| Han dynasty | 2 |
| dinastija Han | 1 |
| Liang dynasty | 1 |
| Southern Tang | 1 |
| Song dynasty | 1 |
| 6th stoletje | 1 |
|---|---|
| 7th stoletje | 4 |
| 8th stoletje | 2 |
| 9th stoletje | 2 |
| 10th stoletje | 7 |
| National Palace Museum | 5 |
|---|---|
| The Palace Museum | 5 |
| Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art | 3 |
| Metropolitanski muzej umetnosti | 3 |
| China Modern and Contemporary Art Document Research Center | 2 |
| Muzej fine arts | 2 |
| Song Art Museum | 1 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art | 1 |
Every name
Wang WeiKitajska · 699–759Dong Yuan934–962Zhang XuanKitajec · 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 Zhaodaodinastija Tang · 675–758Han HuangChinese · 723–787Guan XiuChinese · 832–912Zhao ChangChinese · 960–1016Huang JucaiChinese · 933–993Zhao GanChinese · Questions
First place goes to Wang Wei (#1); Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3) complete the podium.
Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) in Wu Daozi (#5).
“A master of the Southern Tang dynasty, his life and brushwork emerged during a period of profound cultural flowering in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era.” — from our biography of Dong Yuan (#2).
People's Republic of China: 7 of the 17 slikarji in this list were born there, then Činska ljudska republika (2) in Han dynasty (2).
The museums holding the most key works of this list are National Palace Museum (5), The Palace Museum (5) in Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (3).
Most slikarji in this list were born in the 10th stoletje (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.
The earliest-born slikar in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.
Nanjing: 2 of the slikarji in this list were born there.
The highest-ranked slikarji born in People's Republic of China are Dong Yuan (#2), Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9) in Guan Xiu (#14).
Our catalogue holds 38 works by these slikarji.
Other movements
Slavni umetniki BaroqueNočna straža · Rembrandt
Slavni umetniki Contemporary RealistSpletniki · Jean-François Millet
Slavni umetniki ImpressionistZvezdna noč (New York, MoMA) · Vincent Van Gogh
Slavni umetniki RomanticistSaturn Devouring His Son · Francisco de Goya y Lucientes
Slavni umetniki NeoclassicistThe Death of Marat · Jacques-Louis David
Slavni umetniki RealistIzvir sveta · Gustave Courbet
Slavni umetniki RenaissanceMona Lisa (La Gioconda) · Leonardo Da Vinci
Slavni umetniki Dutch Golden AgeDeklica z biserom · Jan Vermeer van Delft
Slavni umetniki ExpressionistKompozicija VII · Vasilij Vasiljevič Kandinski
Slavni umetniki RococoKljubljenje za Kitero · Antoine WatteauOther periods
Slavni umetniki High MedievalMadonna in Maest (Ognissanti Madonna) · Giotto Di Bondone
Slavni umetniki Late MedievalRazkritje in dva svetniki · Simone Martini
Slavni umetniki RenaissanceUstvarjenje Adama · Michelangelo
Slavni umetniki Early ModernPoklicanje svetega Mateja · Caravaggio
Slavni umetniki 19th CenturyVodenice (ali Nympheas) · Claude Monet
Slavni umetniki ModernGuernica · Pablo Picasso
Slavni umetniki ContemporaryWind Sculpture III (one in a series of nine) · Yinka ShonibareDiscover more
