Animal Paintings of the Ming Dynasty

Many emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) like Taizu, Xuanzong, Xianzong and Xiaozong were also skilful animal painters. The “Picture of Cats Under Flowers”by Emperor Xuanzong has been noted for its fine brushwork and meticulous description, and can be rated as a top-notch artistic work.

Following the tradition of the Song Dynasty imperial-court decorative painting, the court painters of this period had produced a large number of animal-themed paintings, which are rather close to each other in both artistic style and coloring. Hu Cong’s “ScrollPainting of Two Steeds in the Shadow of a Willow Tree”is undoubtedly the outstanding among the mediocre.

Nevertheless, among those who were not enrolled in the imperial art academy there was no lack of real talents such as Zhang Longzhang, Xu Bao, Zhang Feng, and Qiu Ying.A groupimage of galloping horses was vividly created in Zhang Longzhang’s “Picture of Tartars Going Hunting”and Xu Bao’s “Scroll Painting of One Hundred Steeds”respectively. And Qiu Ying’s “Picture of Hunting on Horseback in Autumn Field”made with fine, delicate strokes shows the hand of a master.

hancheng

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