Illustrated Biographies, one of four volumes, 1743

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Ink on white paperexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  2000.151.3.1

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Wan-hsiao Studio is the pseudonym of Chou Shang-huan, a scholar and amateur painter from Fujian province. At the age of 79, he had completed a series of 120 portraits of famous historical figures and, in 1743, he had plates carved of each of them in Kuang-tung province. Because he had spent a lifelong effort on these portraits, he employed some of the best carvers available in that southern province.

The four volumes describe historical figures from the Han to Ming dynasties (206 B.C.-A.D.1644). The author combined what limited written descriptions existed with his imaginative illustrations. Each of the exemplary characters thus has a short biography and the list includes wise emperors, virtuous queens, generals, literati, Buddhist monks, Taoist Priests, and filial sons and daughters.

Details
Title
Illustrated Biographies, one of four volumes
Artist Life
18th century
Role
Artist
Dimension
H.11-1/4 x W.6-7/8 x D.1/4 in. (album, each)
Accession Number
2000.151.3.1
Curator Approved

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