Artist: Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322)
Date: Yuan (1271-1368)
Dimensions: Height 29.5 cm, Width 27.2 cm
Material: Ink on paper
Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) is also known by his zi (designated name) Zi'ang, hao (literary name) Songxue Daoren. A native to Wuxing (nowadays Huzhou, Zhejiang province), he was the 11th generation descendant of Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of Song. He was a hanlin scholar (the emperor's literary retinue) in the Yuan dynasty court, and was conferred as the Duke of Wei. He obtained the posthumous name "Wenmin", which was an honorous name for the scholars. Adept in calligraphy, he was skilled in all scripts and led a profoundly influential trend in the art of calligraphy. This album is a collection of his letters to his friends and relatives including Fei Gongchen and Wu Guan. These letters were written during his middle to later years.