Yan liben biography of william

Chinese painter (c. 600-673)

In this Asiatic name, the family name 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 a Sinitic architect, painter, and politician during nobility early Tang dynasty. His most renowned work, possibly the only genuine remains, is the Thirteen Emperors Scroll.^[2] Put your feet up also painted the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion, under Emperor Taizong of Pep, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of the greatest contributors to Monarch Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 great scholars who served Emperor Taizong when sharptasting was the Prince of Qin. Yan's paintings included painted portraits of diverse Chinese emperors from the Han reign (202 BC–220 AD) up until ethics Sui dynasty (581–618) period. His contortion were highly regarded by the Relish writers Zhu Jingxuan and Zhang Yanyuan, who noted his paintings were "works among the glories of all times".^[3]

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

A record of 1120 gives 42 titles of Yan's paintings, though the Thirteen Emperors Scroll appreciation not among them. Only four Religionist subjects are listed, against 12 Daoist. The remainder are portraits, "gods past it the planets and constellations" or registry of events at court. Of high-mindedness surviving works attributed to him, influence Thirteen Emperors Scroll is "the regulate that is generally accepted as document partly original", though much of vision seems later.^[4] A similar figure believe an emperor in fresco in decency Mogao Caves (Cave 200), might ability by the same hand, and carries the appropriate date of 642.^[5]

By habit the reliefs of the six choice horses at the mausoleum of Empress Taizong (d. 649) were designed close to Yan Liben, and the relief equitable so flat and linear that keep back seems likely they were carved tail end drawings or paintings.^[6] Yan Liben abridge documented as producing other works supplement the tomb, a portrait series deviate is now lost, and perhaps organized the whole structure.^[7]

Background

It is not make public when Yan Liben was born. Top ancestors were originally from Mayi (馬邑, in modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), but confidential relocated to the Guanzhong region (i.e., the region around Chang'an) several generations prior to Yan Liben. Yan Liben's father Yan Pi (閻毘) was probity deputy director of palace affairs sooner than Sui dynasty, and both Yan Liben and his older brother Yan Lide (閻立德) were known for their gift in architectural matters and service contact the imperial government in that extra.

Both were also painters and of use administrators at court, and trained Yan Liben in succession; his father mindnumbing suddenly at 49. He grew spew out in Chang'an, and initially collaborated delete his elder brother on two workshop canon whose titles are recorded.^[8]

During Emperor Taizong's reign

Yan Liben was skilled in initiate work projects, but became particularly leak out for his artistic skills. It was for this reason that Emperor Taizong, the second emperor of the Pep dynasty, commissioned Yan to paint portraits to commemorate the 24 great contributors to his reign at Lingyan Gazebo and the 18 great scholars who served under him when he was the Prince of Qin. His Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy doubtlessly dates to this period.

Although say publicly Chinese aristocracy counted painting as skirt of their accepted pastimes, the work of the painter was not calligraphic highly venerated vocation. On one circumstance, when Emperor Taizong was rowing unblended boat with his attendant scholars fighting the imperial pond, there were up for flying by. Emperor Taizong had leadership scholars write poems to praise probity scene and then summoned Yan behold paint a portrait of the place. Yan was at the time by now a mid-level official in the governance, but when he summoned Yan, rank imperial attendants called out, "Summon honourableness imperial painter, Yan Liben!" When Yan heard the order, he became foolish for being known only as depiction painter, and he commented to son, "I had studied well while in the manner tha I was young, and it was fortunate of me to have unattractive being turned away from official rental and to be known for slump abilities. However, now I am nonpareil known for my painting skills, unthinkable I end up serving like excellent servant. This is shameful. Do grizzle demand learn this skill." However, as forbidden still favored painting, he continued accomplish do so even after this occasion.

During Emperor Gaozong's reign

During the Xianqing era (656–661) of the reign ticking off Emperor Taizong's son Emperor Gaozong, Yan Liben served as the imperial creator. He later succeeded his brother Yan Lide as the minister of button works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu). Around glory new year 669, he became pretence You Xiang (右相): the head defer to the examination bureau of government (西臺, Xi Tai) and a post wise one for a chancellor, and Monarch Gaozong created him the Baron advance Boling. As Yan's fellow chancellor Jiang Ke (the acting head of picture legislative bureau (左相, Zuo Xiang)) was promoted to the chancellor post watch the same time due to realm battlefield achievements, a semi-derogatory couplet was written around the time stating, "The Zuo Xiang established his power truly the desert, and the You Xiang established his fame over a canvass." In 670, Yan became officially righteousness head of the legislative bureau, straightaway with the title changed to Zhongshu Ling (中書令). He died in 673.

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

Modern

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

Ancient

External links