Liu Songnian

A Children's Puppet Show by Liu Songnian
"Three Sages Appreciating Antique" by Liu Songnian. Polychrome on silk. Southern Song Dynasty (abt 1300 CE). Private collection.
"Four Generals of Zhongxing" by Liu Songnian: Depicted were four generals regarded by Liu as having contributed greatly to the defence of Southern Song: Yue Fei (second from left), Zhang Jun (fourth from left), Liu Guangshi (second from right) and Han Shizhong (fourth from right)

Liu Songnian (刘松年 or traditional Liu Sung-nien, 1174–1224 CE), was a Chinese landscape painter during the early Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279). He was active from about 1190-1230 and is considered one of the Four Masters of the Southern Song dynasty, which also included Li Tang, Ma Yuan and Xia Gui.[1] He studied and worked at the Imperial Academy of Painting in Hangzhou, capital of the Southern Song dynasty.

Liu entered the Southern Song Imperial Academy of Painting as a student in 1189, and went on to become a painter-in-attendance from 1190 to 1194.[2] During the reign of Emperor Ningzong of Song, he received a prestigious award for his work. Liu followed the tradition of Li Tang. Liu's style influenced the work of Ma Yuan and Xia Gui.[2]

Literary Gathering in the Western Garden, attributed to Liu Songnian
  1. ^ (not provided). "Liu Songnian: One of the Four Masters of the Southern Song Dynasty". Cultural China: Arts (Calligraphy and Painting). Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Liu Songnian Brief Biography". Retrieved 2012-05-22.