Four Masters of the Ming dynasty
The Four Masters of the Ming dynasty are a traditional grouping in Chinese art history of four famous Chinese painters that lived during the Ming dynasty. The group consists of Shen Zhou (1427–1509), Wen Zhengming (1470–1559), Tang Yin (1470–1523), and Qiu Ying (c.1494–c.1552). They were contemporaries, with Shen being the teacher of Wen, while Tang and Qiu was taught by Zhou Chen (1460–1535). All five of the aforementioned painters were part of the Wu School. Their styles and subject matter were varied. Qiu was solely a painter, while the other three developed distinct styles of painting, calligraphy, and poetry.
Four Masters of the Ming dynasty - 明四家 - Ming Sijia.
Clearing after Snow on a Mountain Pass by Tang Yin (1470-1524)
Shen Zhou, courtesy names Qi'nan (启南) and Shitian (石田), was a Chinese painter in the Ming dynasty. He lived during the post-transition period of the Yuan conquest of the Ming. His family worked closely with the government and maintained its wealthy status. Shen later retired and lived a reclusive life, spending most of his time painting and taking care of his widowed mother.
Shen Zhou
Poet on a Mountaintop
Lofty Mt. Lu by Shen Zhou. 1467, Hanging scroll, 6′ × 3′. National Palace Museum, Taipei.
Poetic Feeling of Fallen Flowers by Shen Zhou. Album leaf, ink and color on paper, 35.9 x 60.1 cm. Nanjing Museum, China.