The Illustrations of Emperors throughout the Ages

The Illustrations of Emperors throughout the Ages portrays thirteen emperors from the Han to the Sui Dynasty. It reveals key characteristics of political portrait painting during the early Tang Dynasty, emphasizing conservatism in subject matter and style. The artwork follows the tradition of didactic art, using historical figures as moral and political examples.

One notable example is the depiction of Emperor Houzhu of the Chen Dynasty and Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Emperor Houzhu's indulgence in sensual pleasures led to the decline of the Chen Dynasty, while Emperor Wu's cruelty and persecution of Buddhists resulted in his downfall. These portraits serve as warnings to future rulers, urging them to avoid repeating such mistakes. This scroll chronicles the rise and fall of successive dynasties, offering valuable lessons for the emperors of the Tang Dynasty.

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Yan Liben (so said). Silk scroll, colored. 51.3cm*531cm. Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.