Wen Zhengming

Wen Zhengming (simplified Chinese: 文征明; traditional Chinese: 文徵明; pinyin: Wén Zhēngmíng; Wade–Giles: Wen Cheng-ming, 1470–1559) was a leading Ming Dynasty painter, calligrapher, and scholar.

Born in present-day Suzhou, he claimed to be a descendant of the Song Dynasty prime minister and patriot Wen Tianxiang. Wen’s family was originally from Hengyang, Hunan, where his family had established itself shortly after the 10th century. Not until the time of Wen's great-grandfather, Wen Hui, a military officer, did the family move to the Suzhou area. Zhengming's son, Wen Peng, was a noted seal-engraver.

Wen often chose painting subjects of great simplicity, like a single tree or rock. His work often brings about a feeling of strength through isolation, which often reflected his discontent with official life. Many of his works also celebrate the contexts of elite social life for which they were created. He collaborated in the design of the Humble Administrator's Garden, generally considered one of China's four greatest gardens.

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  Wintry trees after Li Cheng

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  Pi Pa Xing in semi-cursive script

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wen Zhengming.

References

• Clunas, Craig. Elegant Debts: The Social Art of Wen Zhengming, 1470-1559. London: Reaktion Books, 2004.
• Shan, Guoqiang, "Wen Zhengming". Encyclopedia of China (Arts Edition), 1st ed.

External links

• Wen Zhengming's Calligraphy, Painting Galleries at China Online Museum
• Worcester Art Museum - Bamboo, Orchids, Rock, and Calligraphy
• The First Prose Poem on the Red Cliff, 1555
• Wen Zhengming as the Painting Master of Wumen Painting School at Mildchina
• Wen Zhengming in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York