Artist: Zhang Yuan (active in the 14th century)
Date: Yuan (1271-1368)
Dimensions: Height 19.3 cm, Width 519.0 cm
Material: Ink and colour on silk
Zhang Yuan (active in the 14th century), also known by his zi (designated name) Meiyan, was native to Huating (nowadays Songjiang District in Shanghai). Adept in painting landscape and figures, he learned his style from Ma Yuan and Xia Gui. The Ming dynasty connoisseur He Liangjun from Huating of Songjiang (nowadays Fengxian in Shanghai) remarked: "During the Yuan dynasty (when the country was ruled by the Mongols), no other painters are more skillful than Cao Zhibai, Zhang Yuan, and Ren Renfa. These three painters inherited the most essential spirit of painting, so that they can be regarded as masters." This is the only work by Zhuang Yuan remaining today.