Landscape with Pavillions

This handscroll starts out on the right with an expansive view across a stretch of water and develops to an ending on the left of high impregnable mountains. This grand landscape scene is accented throughout with images of buildings, trees, plants, and people going about their daily lives. Yan Wengui was from the south and served in the imperial academy during the reign of Taizong. He created a syncretic style, blending the northern styles of Li Cheng and Fan Kuan with the southern styles of Dong Yuan. Scattered amid his landscape forms Yan used a fine and detailed brush for his depiction of figures, plants, and rocks. He is credited with establishing a new style at the imperial academy from the mid Northern Song dynasty onwards. This work is highly renowned as the best example of Yan Wengui’s style.