Landscape in the Style of Various Masters Leaf 1

Dong Qichang, courtesy name Xuanzai, art names Siweng and Xiangguang jushi, was a native of Huating (present-day Songjiang County, Shanghai city). He became a jinshi in the 17th year of the Wanli reign (1589) and was eventually promoted to the post of Minister of Rites. He was one of the most influential painting and calligraphy masters of the late Ming period, and was awarded the posthumous title "Wenmin". In calligraphy, Dong imitated the celebrated calligraphy of the Wei and Jin dynasties, establishing his own unique style, which was vigorous and elegant. In particular, his running standard script was considered the best of his time. In painting, his most outstanding achievements were landscapes. Having practised in his youth the skills of Huang Gongwang (1269-1354) of the Yuan dynasty, he then turned to imitating the style of Dong Yuan (?-962) and Monk Juran (late 10th century). As a result, his perceptive knowledge of the Song and Yuan masters led again to an original style of fluid and spontaneous brushwork. His artistic styles and treaties on art influenced not only his contemporaries, but also artists of the Qing dynasty.

This album of landscape in the style of various masters is very commonly seen in Dong’s works. Four of the leaves are inscribed to be respectively in the style of Wang Wei (699-761), Ni Zan (1306-1374), Huang Gongwang (1269-1354) and Zhao Lingrang (11th century), all of whom belong to the Southern School in Dong’s painting theory. Yet, the emulation is inclusive rather than exclusive. Comparable to an album dated 1630 in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the motif forms and the uncalculated brushwork, the present album can be ascribed to the painter’s late years. As a whole, the album is precise in brushwork and diverse in spatial arrangement, summing up Dong’s in-depth study of painting for almost half a century and his remarkable success in welding together the merits of various masters to forge his own individuality in his late years.