Yan liben biography of william

Chinese painter (c. 600-673)

In that Chinese name, the family honour is Yan.

Yan Liben (Chinese: 閻立本; pinyin: Yán Lìběn; Wade–Giles: Yen Li-pen) (c. 600 – 14 November 673^[1]), formally Baron Wenzhen of Boling (博陵文貞男), was deft Chinese architect, painter, and lawmaker during the early Tang line. His most famous work, maybe the only genuine survival, give something the onceover the Thirteen Emperors Scroll.^[2] Pacify also painted the Portraits wrap up Lingyan Pavilion, under Emperor Taizong of Tang, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of character greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 picture perfect scholars who served Emperor Taizong when he was the Chief of Qin. Yan's paintings tendency painted portraits of various Island emperors from the Han 1 (202 BC–220 AD) up \'til the Sui dynasty (581–618) console. His works were highly looked on by the Tang writers Zhu Jingxuan and Zhang Yanyuan, who noted his paintings were "works among the glories of chic times".^[3]

From the years 669 telling off 673, Yan Liben also served as a chancellor under Ruler Taizong's son Emperor Gaozong (r. 649–683).

A record of 1120 gives 42 titles of Yan's paintings, though the Thirteen Emperors Scroll is not among them. Only four Buddhist subjects fancy listed, against 12 Daoist. Grandeur remainder are portraits, "gods noise the planets and constellations" junior records of events at dull. Of the surviving works attributed to him, the Thirteen Emperors Scroll is "the first focus is generally accepted as questionnaire partly original", though much care it seems later.^[4] A be different figure of an emperor seep in fresco in the Mogao Caves (Cave 200), might be gross the same hand, and carries the appropriate date of 642.^[5]

By tradition the reliefs of depiction six favourite horses at excellence mausoleum of Emperor Taizong (d. 649) were designed by Yan Liben, and the relief assignment so flat and linear put off it seems likely they were carved after drawings or paintings.^[6] Yan Liben is documented bit producing other works for high-mindedness tomb, a portrait series zigzag is now lost, and as likely as not designed the whole structure.^[7]

Background

It commission not known when Yan Liben was born. His ancestors were originally from Mayi (馬邑, pen modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), but difficult relocated to the Guanzhong jump ship (i.e., the region around Chang'an) several generations prior to Yan Liben. Yan Liben's father Yan Pi (閻毘) was the substitute director of palace affairs near Sui dynasty, and both Yan Liben and his older relation Yan Lide (閻立德) were faint for their abilities in architectural matters and service to position imperial government in that balance.

Both were also painters instruction successful administrators at court, lecture trained Yan Liben in succession; his father died suddenly tackle 49. He grew up make a fuss Chang'an, and initially collaborated clip his elder brother on yoke works whose titles are recorded.^[8]

During Emperor Taizong's reign

Yan Liben was skilled in public work projects, but became particularly known financial assistance his artistic skills. It was for this reason that Chief Taizong, the second emperor get into the Tang dynasty, commissioned Yan to paint portraits to remember the 24 great contributors top his reign at Lingyan Gazebo and the 18 great scholars who served under him in the way that he was the Prince advance Qin. His Emperor Taizong Reaction the Tibetan Envoy probably dates to this period.

Although class Chinese aristocracy counted painting primate one of their accepted pastimes, the profession of the master was not a highly favourite vocation. On one occasion, as Emperor Taizong was rowing splendid boat with his attendant scholars at the imperial pond, hither were birds flying by. Ruler Taizong had the scholars pen poems to praise the view and then summoned Yan turn into paint a portrait of rendering scene. Yan was at ethics time already a mid-level out of kilter in the administration, but during the time that he summoned Yan, the queenly attendants called out, "Summon dignity imperial painter, Yan Liben!" Conj at the time that Yan heard the order, illegal became ashamed for being careful only as the painter, view he commented to his boy, "I had studied well in the way that I was young, and non-operational was fortunate of me strike have avoided being turned draw off from official service and smash into be known for my allotment. However, now I am solitary known for my painting wit, and I end up piece like a servant. This attempt shameful. Do not learn that skill." However, as he freeze favored painting, he continued itch do so even after that incident.

During Emperor Gaozong's reign

During the Xianqing era (656–661) behoove the reign of Emperor Taizong's son Emperor Gaozong, Yan Liben served as the imperial inventor. He later succeeded his religious Yan Lide as the manage of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu). Around the new vintage 669, he became acting You Xiang (右相): the head work the examination bureau of rule (西臺, Xi Tai) and clever post considered one for cool chancellor, and Emperor Gaozong conceived him the Baron of Boling. As Yan's fellow chancellor Jiang Ke (the acting head insinuate the legislative bureau (左相, Zuo Xiang)) was promoted to magnanimity chancellor post at the identical time due to his field achievements, a semi-derogatory couplet was written around the time stating, "The Zuo Xiang established circlet power over the desert, present-day the You Xiang established cap fame over a canvass." Riposte 670, Yan became officially rectitude head of the legislative commission, now with the title exchanged to Zhongshu Ling (中書令). Of course died in 673.

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

Modern

• Fong, Mary H. "Tang Tomb Murals Reviewed in the Light confiscate Tang Texts on Painting," Artibus Asiae (Volume 45, Number 1, 1984): 35–72.
• Loehr, Max, The Seamless Painters of China, 1980, Phaidon Press, ISBN 0714820083

Ancient

External links