A Solitary Temple amid Clearing Peaks & Luxuriant Forest among Distant Peaks

Curious how a painter can blend grandeur and tranquility?

Li Cheng (919-967) masterfully did just that. As a key figure in Song Dynasty landscape painting, he fused the majestic compositions of northern artists with the delicate ink-wash techniques of Jiangnan masters. His works, like A Solitary Temple amid Clearing Peaks and Luxuriant Forest among Distant Peaks, showcase his unique style with rich colors and intricate structures. These landscapes, filled with temples, bridges, and pavilions, reflect an idealized vision of the Song Empire, symbolizing clarity, order, and enlightened rule.

Song Dynasty (960-1279) Li Cheng. Silk hanging scroll. Ink Wash Painting. Collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, USA.

Song Dynasty (960-1279) Li Cheng. Silk scroll. Ink Wash Painting. Collection of the Liaoning Provincial Museum.

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.