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Yan Liben

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Taizong had the scholars write poems to praise the scene and then summoned Yan to paint a portrait of the scene. Yan was at the time already a mid-level official in the administration, but when he summoned Yan, the imperial attendants called out, "Summon the imperial painter, Yan Liben!" When Yan heard the order, he became ashamed for being known only as the painter, and he commented to his son, "I had studied well when I was young, and it was fortunate of me to have avoided being turned away from official service and to be known for my abilities. However, now I am only known for my painting skills, and I end up serving like a servant. This is shameful. Do not learn this skill." However, as he still favored painting, he continued to do so even after this incident.
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Although the Chinese aristocracy counted painting as one of their accepted pastimes, the profession of the painter was not a highly venerated vocation. On one occasion, when Emperor Taizong was rowing a boat with his attendant scholars at the imperial pond, there were birds flying by. Emperor
207:, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 great scholars who served Emperor Taizong when he was the Prince of Qin. Yan's paintings included painted portraits of various Chinese emperors from the 288:(d. 649) were designed by Yan Liben, and the relief is so flat and linear that it seems likely they were carved after drawings or paintings. Yan Liben is documented as producing other works for the tomb, a portrait series that is now lost, and perhaps designed the whole structure. 701: 331:
Both were also painters and successful administrators at court, and trained Yan Liben in succession; his father died suddenly at 49. He grew up in Chang'an, and initially collaborated with his elder brother on two works whose titles are recorded.
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established his fame over a canvass." In 670, Yan became officially the head of the legislative bureau, now with the title changed to
357:, the second emperor of the Tang dynasty, commissioned Yan to paint portraits to commemorate the 24 great contributors to his reign at 265:
is "the first that is generally accepted as being partly original", though much of it seems later. A similar figure of an emperor in
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Yan Liben was skilled in public work projects, but became particularly known for his artistic skills. It was for this reason that
993: 387:, Yan Liben served as the imperial architect. He later succeeded his brother Yan Lide as the minister of public works (工部尚書, 998: 1033: 1023: 106: 1013: 955: 951: 78: 125: 836: 660: 85: 1003: 1028: 1018: 909: 848: 406: 340: 328:) were known for their abilities in architectural matters and service to the imperial government in that area. 223: 150: 63: 939: 358: 200: 927: 677: 277: 238: 92: 578: 59: 74: 743: 572: 614: 530: 384: 354: 296:
It is not known when Yan Liben was born. His ancestors were originally from Mayi (馬邑, in modern
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Fong, Mary H. "Tang Tomb Murals Reviewed in the Light of Tang Texts on Painting,"
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and the 18 great scholars who served under him when he was the Prince of Qin. His
24: 273:(Cave 200), might be by the same hand, and carries the appropriate date of 642. 946: 168: 977: 216: 636: 192: 20: 753: 480: 319: 309: 270: 212: 208: 138: 620: 219:, who noted his paintings were "works among the glories of all times". 968: 312:) several generations prior to Yan Liben. Yan Liben's father Yan Pi ( 257:
is not among them. Only four Buddhist subjects are listed, against 12
897: 305: 281: 242: 191:), was a Chinese architect, painter, and politician during the early 195:. His most famous work, possibly the only genuine survival, is the 41: 536: 410: 297: 664:, depicting foreign envoys with tribute bearers. Song dynasty copy 606: 592: 253:
A record of 1120 gives 42 titles of Yan's paintings, though the
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Works in the collection of the Boston Fine Arts Museum
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From the years 669 to 673, Yan Liben also served as a
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era (656–661) of the reign of Emperor Taizong's son
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Around the new year 669, he became acting 784:day of the 10th month of the 4th year of the 681: 642: 430: 396: 323: 313: 186: 803: 707:Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy 364:Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy 346:Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy 1009:Chancellors under Emperor Gaozong of Tang 126:Learn how and when to remove this message 661:Portraits of Periodical Offering of Tang 339: 232: 137: 173: 976: 64:adding citations to reliable sources 35: 894:(Volume 45, Number 1, 1984): 35–72. 278:reliefs of the six favourite horses 239:reliefs of the six favourite horses 13: 405:) and a post considered one for a 14: 1045: 962: 181:600 – 14 November 673), formally 717: 693: 669: 652: 627: 613: 599: 585: 571: 557: 543: 529: 515: 501: 487: 473: 459: 445: 308:region (i.e., the region around 40: 367:probably dates to this period. 51:needs additional citations for 994:7th-century Chinese architects 867: 858: 853:A Short History of Chinese Art 830: 821: 812: 794: 775: 375:During Emperor Gaozong's reign 336:During Emperor Taizong's reign 163: 154: 1: 879: 291: 211:(202 BC–220 AD) up until the 201:Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion 999:7th-century Chinese painters 678:Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum 304:), but had relocated to the 226:under Emperor Taizong's son 16:Chinese painter (c. 600-673) 7: 1034:Transition from Sui to Tang 902:The Great Painters of China 843:, 126, 1973, Sphere Books, 737: 579:Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou 10: 1050: 915: 438: 18: 1014:Chinese portrait painters 884: 682: 643: 431: 397: 324: 314: 187: 818:Loehr, 33-34 (34 quoted) 769: 744:List of Chinese painters 730:Thirteen Emperors Scroll 537:Emperor Da of Eastern Wu 263:Thirteen Emperors Scroll 255:Thirteen Emperors Scroll 197:Thirteen Emperors Scroll 904:, 1980, Phaidon Press, 637:Orchid Pavilion Preface 635:Xiao Yi Acquiring the " 349:, probably a later copy 205:Emperor Taizong of Tang 199:. He also painted the 183:Baron Wenzhen of Boling 1024:Politicians from Xi'an 764:History of Chinese art 607:Emperor Guangwu of Han 593:Emperor Zhaolie of Shu 481:Emperor Houzhu of Chen 350: 250: 143: 1029:Tang dynasty painters 1019:Painters from Shaanxi 343: 236: 142:Portrait of Yan Liben 141: 509:Emperor Xuan of Chen 435:). He died in 673. 60:improve this article 728:Full scroll of the 710:. Song dynasty copy 704:Full scroll of the 621:Emperor Zhao of Han 565:Emperor Yang of Sui 495:Emperor Wen of Chen 467:Emperor Fei of Chen 1004:Artists from Xi'an 855:, 1967); Loehr, 33 551:Emperor Wen of Sui 453:Emperor Wen of Wei 351: 251: 144: 841:The Arts of China 837:Sullivan, Michael 523:Emperor Wu of Jin 276:By tradition the 136: 135: 128: 110: 1041: 935:New Book of Tang 923:Old Book of Tang 874: 871: 865: 862: 856: 851:(revised edn of 834: 828: 825: 819: 816: 810: 809:Fong (1984), 38. 807: 801: 798: 792: 790:Old Book of Tang 779: 759:Chinese painting 749:Tang dynasty art 721: 697: 685: 684: 673: 656: 646: 645: 631: 617: 603: 589: 575: 561: 547: 533: 519: 505: 491: 477: 463: 449: 434: 433: 400: 399: 359:Lingyan Pavilion 327: 326: 317: 316: 190: 189: 175: 165: 156: 131: 124: 120: 117: 111: 109: 68: 44: 36: 1049: 1048: 1044: 1043: 1042: 1040: 1039: 1038: 974: 973: 965: 918: 887: 882: 877: 872: 868: 863: 859: 835: 831: 826: 822: 817: 813: 808: 804: 799: 795: 780: 776: 772: 740: 735: 734: 733: 727: 722: 713: 712: 711: 703: 698: 687: 686:) or Autumn Dew 674: 665: 657: 648: 632: 623: 618: 609: 604: 595: 590: 581: 576: 567: 562: 553: 548: 539: 534: 525: 520: 511: 506: 497: 492: 483: 478: 469: 464: 455: 450: 441: 389:Gongbu Shangshu 385:Emperor Gaozong 377: 355:Emperor Taizong 338: 294: 286:Emperor Taizong 247:Emperor Taizong 228:Emperor Gaozong 132: 121: 115: 112: 69: 67: 57: 45: 34: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1047: 1037: 1036: 1031: 1026: 1021: 1016: 1011: 1006: 1001: 996: 991: 986: 972: 971: 964: 963:External links 961: 960: 959: 947:Zizhi Tongjian 943: 931: 917: 914: 913: 912: 895: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 875: 866: 857: 829: 820: 811: 802: 793: 773: 771: 768: 767: 766: 761: 756: 751: 746: 739: 736: 724: 723: 716: 715: 714: 700: 699: 692: 691: 690: 689: 688: 675: 668: 666: 658: 651: 649: 639:" by Deception 633: 626: 624: 619: 612: 610: 605: 598: 596: 591: 584: 582: 577: 570: 568: 563: 556: 554: 549: 542: 540: 535: 528: 526: 521: 514: 512: 507: 500: 498: 493: 486: 484: 479: 472: 470: 465: 458: 456: 451: 444: 440: 437: 376: 373: 337: 334: 293: 290: 230:(r. 649–683). 134: 133: 48: 46: 39: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1046: 1035: 1032: 1030: 1027: 1025: 1022: 1020: 1017: 1015: 1012: 1010: 1007: 1005: 1002: 1000: 997: 995: 992: 990: 987: 985: 982: 981: 979: 970: 967: 966: 957: 953: 949: 948: 944: 941: 937: 936: 932: 929: 925: 924: 920: 919: 911: 907: 903: 899: 896: 893: 892:Artibus Asiae 889: 888: 870: 861: 854: 850: 846: 842: 838: 833: 824: 815: 806: 797: 791: 787: 783: 778: 774: 765: 762: 760: 757: 755: 752: 750: 747: 745: 742: 741: 731: 726: 720: 709: 708: 702: 696: 679: 672: 667: 663: 662: 655: 650: 640: 638: 630: 625: 622: 616: 611: 608: 602: 597: 594: 588: 583: 580: 574: 569: 566: 560: 555: 552: 546: 541: 538: 532: 527: 524: 518: 513: 510: 504: 499: 496: 490: 485: 482: 476: 471: 468: 462: 457: 454: 448: 443: 442: 436: 428: 427:Zhongshu Ling 424: 420: 416: 412: 408: 404: 394: 390: 386: 382: 372: 368: 366: 365: 360: 356: 348: 347: 342: 333: 329: 321: 311: 307: 303: 299: 289: 287: 283: 279: 274: 272: 268: 264: 260: 256: 248: 244: 240: 235: 231: 229: 225: 220: 218: 217:Zhang Yanyuan 214: 210: 206: 202: 198: 194: 184: 180: 176: 170: 166: 160: 152: 148: 140: 130: 127: 119: 108: 105: 101: 98: 94: 91: 87: 84: 80: 77: –  76: 72: 71:Find sources: 65: 61: 55: 54: 49:This article 47: 43: 38: 37: 32: 31: 26: 22: 945: 933: 921: 901: 891: 869: 860: 852: 840: 832: 823: 814: 805: 800:Loehr, 32-34 796: 789: 785: 781: 777: 729: 705: 680:, "Saluzi" ( 659: 634: 426: 422: 418: 414: 402: 392: 388: 380: 378: 369: 362: 352: 344: 330: 295: 275: 262: 254: 252: 221: 196: 193:Tang dynasty 182: 178: 172: 162: 146: 145: 122: 113: 103: 96: 89: 82: 70: 58:Please help 53:verification 50: 28: 21:Chinese name 754:Chinese art 676:One of the 379:During the 320:Sui dynasty 271:Mogao Caves 237:One of the 213:Sui dynasty 209:Han dynasty 116:August 2020 75:"Yan Liben" 25:family name 989:673 deaths 984:600 births 978:Categories 910:0714820083 898:Loehr, Max 880:References 849:0351183345 407:chancellor 292:Background 224:chancellor 174:Yen Li-pen 169:Wade–Giles 86:newspapers 873:Loehr, 32 864:Loehr, 33 827:Loehr, 36 786:Xian'heng 423:You Xiang 419:Zuo Xiang 415:Zuo Xiang 393:You Xiang 306:Guanzhong 282:mausoleum 243:mausoleum 164:Yán Lìběn 147:Yan Liben 950:, vols. 940:vol. 100 738:See also 411:Jiang Ke 381:Xianqing 310:Chang'an 298:Shuozhou 203:, under 19:In this 928:vol. 77 916:Ancient 732:(歷代帝王圖) 439:Gallery 280:at the 269:in the 241:at the 151:Chinese 100:scholar 908:  885:Modern 847:  782:ren'wu 644:蕭翼賺蘭亭圖 403:Xi Tai 302:Shanxi 267:fresco 259:Daoist 171:: 161:: 159:pinyin 153:: 102:  95:  88:  81:  73:  23:, the 770:Notes 188:博陵文貞男 107:JSTOR 93:books 906:ISBN 845:ISBN 79:news 956:202 952:201 683:颯露紫 432:中書令 325:閻立德 284:of 245:of 177:) ( 155:閻立本 62:by 30:Yan 27:is 980:: 954:, 938:, 926:, 900:, 839:, 398:右相 315:閻毘 300:, 179:c. 167:; 157:; 958:. 942:. 930:. 647:) 641:( 429:( 395:( 185:( 149:( 129:) 123:( 118:) 114:( 104:· 97:· 90:· 83:· 56:. 33:.

Index

Chinese name
family name
Yan

verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Yan Liben"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
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Chinese
pinyin
Wade–Giles
Tang dynasty
Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Han dynasty
Sui dynasty
Zhang Yanyuan
chancellor
Emperor Gaozong

reliefs of the six favourite horses
mausoleum
Emperor Taizong

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