Chapter 95 Tang/Yan Liben of Emperors of the Past Dynasties

Yan Liben, the author of "Pictures of Emperors of Past Dynasties", is probably the most dishonest prime minister in history.He, his father Yan Pi, and his elder brother Yan Lide were all great painters in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. He was appointed as the right minister during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty. Seeing that the waterfowl looked good, he immediately ordered him to paint; the portraits of the twenty-four heroes to be displayed in Lingyan Pavilion were ordered to be written by Yan Liben.So someone ridiculed him at that time and said: "The left side is Xuanwei Desert, and the right side is famous for Danqing."

Yan Liben's handed down figure paintings are most famous for "Pictures of Emperors of Past Dynasties" and "Pictures of Walking Chariots". Most of the figure paintings in the Sui Dynasty mainly reflect the life of the nobles, expressing their "magnificence" or "soft posture, elegant appearance, and leisurely elegance".This unified style is the "detailed and exquisite" style of painting that precipitated the legacy of the Wei and Jin Dynasties and flourished in the Qi and Liang dynasties. The "Picture of Emperors of Past Dynasties" painted by Yan Liben is also a manifestation of this style.

"Picture of Emperors of Past Dynasties" shows thirteen representative emperors from Han Dynasty to Sui Dynasty in Chinese history, they are: Emperor Zhao of Western Han Dynasty Liu Fuling, Emperor Guangwu of Eastern Han Dynasty Liu Xiu, Lord of Shu Liu Bei, Lord of Wu Sun Quan, Emperor Wen of Wei Cao Pi, Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of Jin Dynasty, Yu Wenyong, Emperor Wu of Later Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Wen of Chen, Emperor Bozong of Chen Fei, Emperor Xuan of Chen Chen Xu, Empress Chen Shubao, Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty Yang Jian, Emperor Yang of Sui Yang Guang, etc.In the creation, the author vividly expresses the different temperaments and appearances of the emperors according to their respective merits and demerits and personality characteristics.

These emperors can be roughly divided into two categories.The first category is the monarchs who have great talents and general plans to turn the tide, such as Liu Fuling, Liu Xiu, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Cao Pi, Sima Yan, Yu Wenyong and Yang Jian. The power of the soul.The other category is fatuous, incompetent or self-willed kings of subjugation, such as Chen Bozong, Chen Shubao, Yang Guang, etc. They are portrayed as wretched, weak, ruthless and soft-hearted. The picture is a long scroll, and each emperor has one or several attendants, forming a group independently.Compared with the waiters, the image of the emperor is exaggerated. The author seems to use the size of the body to set off the size of the power. The thirteen emperors either sit or stand, or face or back, and their facial expressions are meticulous. Look at their eyes and demeanor to feel their psychological state and personality traits.

Jinwu Emperor Sima Yan is introduced as a representative in many albums.Sima Yan is the eldest son of Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao has mastered the military and political power of Wei, but he does not want to usurp Wei and proclaim himself emperor, but leaves the throne to his son Sima Yan. ".After Sima Zhao's death, Sima Yan forced Emperor Wei to abdicate, established the Western Jin Dynasty, and eliminated Shu and Wu, ending the split situation of the Three Kingdoms. He can be regarded as a talented emperor.Sima Yan in the painting has big ears, piercing eyes, mighty without anger, his hands are spread to the left and right, his sleeves are wide, and he really has the majesty of the founding king.

There are forty-six waiters in the painting, and the description is not without flaws.Among the ten attendants in the group of Emperor Chen Xuan, six servants carried the chariot with different postures and expressions.There are two people holding fans and two courtiers Bing Hu on the back of the chariot. They look sad and seem to be worried for the country. This group of characters is varied and breaks the rigidity of the whole picture. As a representative work of figure paintings in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, "Picture of Emperors of Past Dynasties" is very successful, but it inevitably has a strong stylized and decorative tendency. Excellent figure painting.

"Pictures of Emperors of Past Dynasties", also known as "Pictures of Emperors", "Pictures of Thirteen Emperors", "Pictures of Ancient Emperors", "Pictures of Ancient Emperors", silk version.Reset color.It is 51.3 cm long and 531 cm wide.No money.According to Fu Bi's inscription in the Song Dynasty, it has long been believed to be the work of Yan Liben.Existing Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.