New to Early Medieval? Start here
If you remember one Early Medieval pictor, make it Wang Wei (699–759), the name behind Seven and a Half Years Old și Winter Landscape. After that come Dong Yuan, Zhang Xuan, Yan Liben și Wu Daozi. Our 17 picks go from Emperor Yuan of Liang (born 508) to Zhao Chang (born 960), from 7 countries.
How we picked them. We list the artists our catalogue links to Early Medieval, from the most famous down. Artists born after 1955 that we cannot yet check on Wikidata are left out. The Wikipedia number shows in how many of our 32 languages Wikipedia writes about them.
Quick facts
Meet them one by one
1of 17
Chinez From Yongji Pictura de Peisaj On Wikipedia in 19 of 32 languages
Wang Wei (王維), născut în jurul anului 699 d.Hr. în județul Qixian, provincia Shanxi, se impune ca o figură monumentală în istoria artei din Dinastia Tang—o mărturie a fuziunii armonioase dintre muzică, poezie, pictură și leadership politic.
2of 17
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.
3of 17
Chinez From Xi'an Pictură din Dinastia Tang On Wikipedia in 10 of 32 languages
Zhang Xuan (713–755), o figură centrală în arta Dinastiei Tang, se ridică printre cei mai celebrați doi pictori ai erei sale, alături de Yan Liben. Producția artistică a lui Zhang Xuan în timpul Dinastii Tang i-a consolidat locul printre cei mai celebrați pictori ai Chinei.
4of 17
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.
5of 17
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.
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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
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.
8of 17
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.
9of 17
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
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.
11of 17
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.
12of 17
Din dinastia Tang From Qin'an Qinglu Bai On Wikipedia in 8 of 32 languages
Peisajul dinastiei Tang se transformă sub pensula lui Li Zhaodao. Acesta se îndepărtează de tonurile subtile ale Școlii de Sud, optând în schimb pentru o aplicare densă și luminoasă a pigmenților minerali. Aceasta este esența stilului Qinglu Bai, un stil definit de greutatea și lumina sa proprii.
Works to know · Their 100 best-known works
13of 17
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.
14of 17
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
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.
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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.
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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.
Pictures worth knowing
When it happened
Fun figures
| People's Republic of China | 7 |
|---|---|
| Republica Populară China | 2 |
| Han dynasty | 2 |
| dinastia Han | 1 |
| Liang dynasty | 1 |
| Southern Tang | 1 |
| Song dynasty | 1 |
| Secolul 6th | 1 |
|---|---|
| Secolul 7th | 4 |
| Secolul 8th | 2 |
| Secolul 9th | 2 |
| Secolul 10th | 7 |
Just the names
Wang WeiChinez · 699–759Dong Yuan934–962Zhang XuanChinez · 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 ZhaodaoDin dinastia Tang · 675–758Han HuangChinese · 723–787Guan XiuChinese · 832–912Zhao ChangChinese · 960–1016Huang JucaiChinese · 933–993Zhao GanChinese · Good questions
Wang Wei (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Dong Yuan (#2) and Zhang Xuan (#3).
Wang Wei (#1), Dong Yuan (#2), Zhang Xuan (#3), Yan Liben (#4) și Wu Daozi (#5).
The museums holding the most key works of this list are National Palace Museum (5), The Palace Museum (5) și Metropolitan Museum of Art (4).
Most pictori in this list were born in the Secolul 10th (7 of 17), between 508 and 960 overall.
Nanjing: 2 of the pictori in this list were born there.
The earliest-born pictor in this list is Emperor Yuan of Liang (#10), born in 508.
The highest-ranked pictori born in People's Republic of China are Dong Yuan (#2), Zhou Wenju (#7), Li Cheng (#8), Jing Hao (#9) și Guan Xiu (#14).
People's Republic of China: 7 of the 17 pictori in this list were born there, then Republica Populară China (2) și Han dynasty (2).
“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).
Our catalogue holds 38 works by these pictori. Each one can be ordered as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print.
Read more
Other styles
Artiști celebri de BaroqueRembrandt van Rijn · Rembrandt
Artiști celebri de Contemporary RealistCulegătoarele · Jean-François Millet
Artiști celebri de ImpressionistNoaptea Pătrunzătoare (New York, MoMA) · Vincent Van Gogh
Artiști celebri de RomanticistSaturn devorându-și fiul · Goya
Artiști celebri de NeoclassicistMoartea lui Marat · Jacques-Louis David
Artiști celebri de RealistOriginea lumii · Gustave Courbet
Artiști celebri de RenaissanceMona Lisa (La Gioconda) · Leonardo Da Vinci
Artiști celebri de Dutch Golden AgeFata cu cercel de perlă · Johannes Vermeer
Artiști celebri de ExpressionistCompoziția VII · Vasili Kandinski
Artiști celebri de RococoCălătoria spre Cythera · Antoine WatteauOther eras
Artiști celebri de High MedievalMadonna in Maest (Ognissanti Madonna) · Giotto
Artiști celebri de Late MedievalAnunțarea și doi sfinți · Simone Martini
Artiști celebri de RenaissanceCrearea lui Adam · Michelangelo Buonarroti
Artiști celebri de Early ModernChemarea Sfântului Matei · Caravaggio
Artiști celebri de 19th CenturyNuferi (sau Nympheas) · Claude Monet
Artiști celebri de ModernGuernica · Pablo Picasso
Artiști celebri de ContemporaryWind Sculpture III (one in a series of nine) · Yinka ShonibareKeep exploring
