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Meet the 2 Most Famous Paintings by Wu Daozi
Updated Жовтень 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 2 works by Wu Daozi in our catalogue
In short
If you know one Wu Daozi painting, it's probably Guanyin (1885), which hangs in the Метрополітен-музей, Нью-Йорк. Our catalogue has 2 works by Wu Daozi. Below are the 2 people know best, each with its year, where to find it and what makes it special.
680 – 740, Chang'an
Most works: Метрополітен-музей
Start here: the top 10 Wu Daozi paintings
Where you can see Wu Daozi's paintings
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Wu Daozi | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Метрополітен-музей |
Нью-Йорк | 1 | Guanyin |
 Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art |
Providence | 1 | Guanyin and Child |
Your questions about Wu Daozi's paintings
Which Wu Daozi painting is the most famous?See the answer
Top of the list is Guanyin (1885).
How many paintings did Wu Daozi create?See the answer
We have 2 works by Wu Daozi in our catalogue.
Where can you see Wu Daozi's famous paintings?See the answer
You'll find most of them in Метрополітен-музей (Нью-Йорк) and Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (Providence). The museum list above has the full breakdown.
Can I get a reproduction of a Wu Daozi painting?See the answer
Yes. Every painting on this page is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print, in the size that suits you. Just open the painting's page to order.
Getting to know Wu Daozi
The Life and Art of Wu Daozi
Wu Daozi, also known as Daoxuan or Wu Tao Tzu, was a highly influential painter of the Tang dynasty. Born in Chang'an, he endured a childhood of poverty following the death of his father. He initially mastered calligraphy under the guidance of Zhang Xu and He Zhizhang before specializing in the art of painting. His technical mastery was revolutionary, as he pioneered realistic techniques, the formal establishment of brushwork, and the genre of landscape painting. He was particularly renowned for his ability to paint figures with round strokes, a technique used to depict the flowing movement of their clothes.
His creative output was immense, encompassing intricate murals for Buddhist and Daoist temples, as well as detailed depictions of mountains, rivers, flowers, and birds. While no authentic original works survive, his artistic legacy persists through various later copies and stone carvings. Notable works associated with him include:
Legends and Legacy
The life of Wu Daozi is surrounded by numerous legends, particularly those involving commissions by Emperor Xuanzong. One tale describes a palace mural of a valley scene so lifelike that the artist supposedly entered a cave within the painting and vanished. Another legend recounts his incredible speed in Sichuan, where he allegedly painted the entire course of the Jialing River from memory in a single day.
His influence remains significant in art history. British art historian Michael Sullivan considers him one of the masters of the seventh century, and in China, his paintings are believed to mark the peak of court painting. His work has been featured in television presentations, such as the 2004-5 production The Presentation of Buddha.