Artist: Zhang Xiaoxiang (1132-1169)

Date: Southern Song (1127-1279)

Dimensions: Height 26.6 cm, Width 43.3 cm

Material: Ink on paper

• Object Type：
  • CALLIGRAPHY
• Location：
  • The Painting and Calligraphy of Shanghai Gallery
• Tag：
  • letter friend new settlement runnning script zhang xiaoxiang southern song ink paper

Zhang Xiaoxiang (1132-1169), also known by his zi (designated name) Anguo and his hao (literary name) Yuhu, was a native of Wujiang (present-day He county in Anhui province). A zhuangyuan (the top scorer in the imperial examination), he excelled in poetry, prose, and calligraphy, particularly known for his ci (poems following certain forms). He is regarded as a poet of the Haofang (bold and broad) School. This piece was once part of the collection of He Liangjun from Huating. He Liangjun was renowned for his vast collection of calligraphy and paintings and developed an art-historical perspective based on the notions of "professional paintings" and "amateur paintings" as the important painting theory of the "Southern and Northern Schools" was taking form in the late Ming, He Liangjun's theory anticipated key developments in Chinese art theory.

【Special Exhibition】 An Everlasting Spring: The Art of Painting and Calligraphy in Shanghai