Who is the most famous Early Medieval painter?

Wang Wei (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3).

Who are the 5 most famous Early Medieval painters?

Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) and Wu Daozi (#5).

Where are the great works of Early Medieval art today?

The museums holding the most key works of this list are The Palace Museum (5), National Palace Museum (5) and Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).

When were most Early Medieval painters born?

Most painters in this list were born in the 10th century (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.

Which city produced the most Early Medieval painters?

Nanjing: 2 of the painters in this list were born there.

Who was the first Early Medieval painter?

The earliest-born painter in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.

Who are the great Early Medieval painters of People's Republic of China?

The highest-ranked painters born in People's Republic of China are Dong Yuan (#2), Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9) and Guan Xiu (#14).

Which country produced the most Early Medieval painters?

People's Republic of China: 7 of the 17 painters in this list were born there, then Han dynasty (2) and Narodna Republika Kina (1).

Can I order a painting by a famous Early Medieval painter?

Our catalogue holds 38 works by these painters. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.

Famous Early Medieval Painters: Our Top 17

Quick facts

Early Medieval in a nutshell

17Artists
508–960Years of birth
8Countries of birth
0Women
38Works in our catalogue

Cities with most births: Nanjing (2), Chang'an (2), Yongji (1), Xi'an (1)
Museums holding the most key works: The Palace Museum (5), National Palace Museum (5), Metropolitan Museum of Art (4), Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (3)

Meet them one by one

The 17 famous Early Medieval painters, from most famous down

1of 17

Wang Wei 699–759

Kina From Yongji Pejzažno slikarstvo On Wikipedia in 19 of 32 languages

Wang Wei (王維), rođen oko 699. godine u okrugu Qixian u provinciji Shanxi, stoji kao monumentalna figura u povijesti umjetnosti dinastije Tang—svjedočanstvo skladnog spoja glazbe, poezije, slikarstva i političkog vodstva. Poštovan ne samo zbog svog umjetničkog stvaralaštva, već i zbog dubokih filozofskih uvjerenja utkanih u Chan budizam, Wang Wei utjelovljuje duh svog doba: intelektualnu znatiželju upojenu s nepokolebljivom posvećenošću ljepoti prirode.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

2of 17

Dong Yuan 934–962

From Nanjing On Wikipedia in 16 of 32 languages

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. Born in Zhongling, in what is now Jinxian County, Dong Yuan was not merely a painter but an official whose deep engagement with the natural world helped redefine the very essence of Shanshui, or landscape painting.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

3of 17

Zhang Xuan 713–755

Kineski From Xi'an Slikarstvo dinastije Tang On Wikipedia in 10 of 32 languages

Zhang Xuan (713. – 755.), ključna figura u umjetnosti Dinastije Tang, stoji kao jedan od dva najslavnija slikara svog doba, rame uz Yan Libena. Umjetnički opus Zhang Xuana tijekom Dinastije Tang učvrstio je njegovo mjesto među najslavnijim kineskim slikarima.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

4of 17

Yan Liben 600–673

Chinese From Chang'an Early Tang Dynasty realism On Wikipedia in 13 of 32 languages

In the early years of the Tang dynasty, a man named Yan Liben moved through the imperial halls of Chang'an with a dual identity that defined his very existence.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

5of 17

Wu Daozi 680–740

Tang dynasty From Chang'an Realistic techniques and landscape painting On Wikipedia in 11 of 32 languages

Wu Daozi, also known as Daoxuan or Wu Tao Tzu, was a highly influential painter of the Tang dynasty. He initially mastered calligraphy under the guidance of Zhang Xu and He Zhizhang before specializing in the art of painting. Notable works associated with him include: The life of Wu Daozi is surrounded by numerous legends, particularly those involving commissions by Emperor Xuanzong.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

6of 17

Huang Quan 903–965

On Wikipedia in 10 of 32 languages

This city, the capital of the Xichuan Circuit, offered a pocket of relative peace under the rule of Wang Jian. At the age of twelve, he entered the studio of Diao Guangyin, a painter who had traveled from the old capital of Chang'an to find safety in the southwest. He studied the delicate water paintings of Sun Wei and the landscape compositions of Li Sheng.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

7of 17

Zhou Wenju 917–975

Chinese From Nanjing Tang Dynasty Figure Painting On Wikipedia in 7 of 32 languages

Among those whose names remain partially veiled in mystery is Chou Wen-chu —also known as Zhou Wenju —a painter who flourished during the turbulent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

8of 17

Li Cheng 919–967

Chinese From Weifang Landscape painting On Wikipedia in 11 of 32 languages

Born in Qingzhou, Shandong province during the tumultuous Five Dynasties period (907-967), Li Cheng Liang emerged as a pivotal figure in Chinese landscape painting.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

9of 17

Jing Hao 855–915

From Qinshui County On Wikipedia in 8 of 32 languages

Jing Hao, known by his courtesy name Haoran and art name Hongguality, was more than a mere painter; he was a visionary theorist and a master of the monumental. While much of the world around him descended into the chaos of warring factions, Jing Hao sought refuge in the rugged, mist-shrouded heights of the Taihang Mountains in Shanxi province.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

10of 17

Emperor Yuan of Liang 508–555

Liang dynasty On Wikipedia in 7 of 32 languages

Emperor Yuan of Liang, also known by his personal name Xiao Yi, was an emperor of the Chinese Liang dynasty. Born in 508, he was the seventh son of Emperor Wu. He was a renowned writer and a collector of ancient books, though he was often criticized by historians for prioritizing the elimination of political contenders over military action against the rebel general Hou Jing.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

11of 17

Gu Hongzhong 937–975

Chinese On Wikipedia in 8 of 32 languages

In the twilight of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a painter named Gu Hongzhong moved through the courts of the Southern Tang with a keen, observant eye. He lived during an era of shifting borders and fragile peace, serving likely as a court painter under the reign of Emperor Li Yu.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

12of 17

Li Zhaodao 675–758

Dinastija Tang From Qin'an Qinglu Bai On Wikipedia in 8 of 32 languages

Pejzaž Dinastije Tang transformira se pod kistom umjetnika Li Zhaodao. To je esencija stila Qinglu Bai, stila koji definira njegova težina i njegova svjetlost. Kao sin Li Sixuna, slikara i plemićkog mecena, Zhaodao je odrastao u kući u kojoj su tradicije kaligrafije i slikarstva bile primarni jezik.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

13of 17

Han Huang 723–787

Chinese On Wikipedia in 5 of 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.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

14of 17

Guan Xiu 832–912

Chinese From Lanxi Tang Dynasty On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

Guànxiū (832–912), a Buddhist monk, painter, poet, and calligrapher hailing from Chengdu, China, stands as one of the most celebrated figures of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960). 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.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

15of 17

Zhao Chang 960–1016

Chinese From Guanghan On Wikipedia in 5 of 32 languages

Born in Guanghan, Zhao Chang lived through a period of profound cultural shifts in China. His life spanned the transition from the Later Zhou dynasty into the Northern Song dynasty, a time when the aesthetics of the imperial court were being defined. He was a student of the flower-and-bird painter Teng Changyou, learning the delicate balance required to capture life on silk or paper.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

16of 17

Huang Jucai 933–993

Chinese From Chengdu On Wikipedia in 4 of 32 languages

Born around 933, Huang Jucai lived through the shifting landscapes of the Later Shu and Song dynasties. He was the fourth son of the painter Huang Quan, growing up in a household where the language of ink and brush was the primary way of understanding the world. This lineage provided him with a foundation of skill that he would carry into his own prolific career.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

17of 17

Zhao Gan

Chinese Jiangnan style On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

Zhao Gan was a Chinese painter active during the second half of the tenth century, originating from Nanjing. As a member of the painting academy at the court of the last emperor of the Southern Tang, Li Houzhu, he served as a student at the Imperial Painting Academy.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

Pictures worth knowing

Famous Early Medieval works to recognise

Seven and a Half Years Old

Wang Wei

2011 · Song Art Museum, Beijing
The Immortal Paradise Building in the Mountain

Dong Yuan

950 · National Palace Museum, Taipei
Court ladies preparing newly woven silk

Zhang Xuan

China Modern and Contemporary Art Document Research Center, Beijing
Thirteen Emperors Scroll

Yan Liben

650 · Muzej likovnih umjetnosti, Boston
Guanyin

Wu Daozi

1885 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Untitled

Huang Quan

The Palace Museum, Beijing
In the Palace

Zhou Wenju

1133 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Giant

Li Cheng

2019 · Fubon Art Foundation Very Fun Park, Taipei

When it happened

Early Medieval, step by step

Fun figures

The numbers behind the list

Country of birth
People's Republic of China	7
Han dynasty	2
Narodna Republika Kina	1
Dinastija Han	1
Liang dynasty	1
Southern Tang	1
Pučinska Republika Kina	1
Song dynasty	1

Century of birth
6th century	1
7th century	4
8th century	2
9th century	2
10th century	7

Museums holding their key works
The Palace Museum	5
National Palace Museum	5
Metropolitan Museum of Art	4
Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art	3
China Modern and Contemporary Art Document Research Center	2
Muzej likovnih umjetnosti	2
Song Art Museum	1
Cleveland Museum of Art	1

Just the names

List of 17 famous Early Medieval painters to know

1Wang WeiKina · 699–759
2Dong Yuan934–962
3Zhang XuanKineski · 713–755
4Yan LibenChinese · 600–673
5Wu DaoziTang dynasty · 680–740
6Huang Quan903–965
7Zhou WenjuChinese · 917–975
8Li ChengChinese · 919–967
9Jing Hao855–915
10Emperor Yuan of LiangLiang dynasty · 508–555
11Gu HongzhongChinese · 937–975
12Li ZhaodaoDinastija Tang · 675–758
13Han HuangChinese · 723–787
14Guan XiuChinese · 832–912
15Zhao ChangChinese · 960–1016
16Huang JucaiChinese · 933–993
17Zhao GanChinese ·

Good questions

What people ask about Early Medieval

Who is the most famous Early Medieval painter?
Wang Wei (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3).
Who are the 5 most famous Early Medieval painters?
Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) and Wu Daozi (#5).
Where are the great works of Early Medieval art today?
The museums holding the most key works of this list are The Palace Museum (5), National Palace Museum (5) and Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).
When were most Early Medieval painters born?
Most painters in this list were born in the 10th century (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.
Which city produced the most Early Medieval painters?
Nanjing: 2 of the painters in this list were born there.
Who was the first Early Medieval painter?
The earliest-born painter in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.
Who are the great Early Medieval painters of People's Republic of China?
The highest-ranked painters born in People's Republic of China are Dong Yuan (#2), Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9) and Guan Xiu (#14).
Which country produced the most Early Medieval painters?
People's Republic of China: 7 of the 17 painters in this list were born there, then Han dynasty (2) and Narodna Republika Kina (1).
What techniques did Early Medieval painters use?
“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).
Can I order a painting by a famous Early Medieval painter?
Our catalogue holds 38 works by these painters. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.