This is the caption of image number 1Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Undated, hanging scroll, ink on paper, 131.5 × 63.5 cm

Best known by his courtesy name Zhengming rather than his original name Bi, Wen Zhengming was a native of Changzhou (today's Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). He started reading poetry and literary classics at a very early age and developed exceptional interest in calligraphy and painting. His calligraphy followed the style of Li Yingzhen (1431-1439), his essay writing took inspiration from Wu Kuan (1435-1504) and his painting was modeled on Shen Zhou (1427-1509). Wen's efforts at a bureaucratic career were ill-fated as he failed ten times the civil service recruitment examination. His last try at the age of fifty-three was twenty-seven years after his first failure. The following year, at the age of fifty-four, he was finally recommended and appointed to a post in the Hanlin Academy. He stayed for three years before retiring at the age of fifty-seven, and then returned home immersing himself in calligraphy and painting. 

 

  The scroll was signed "Zhengming", with an intaglio seal "Wen Zhengming seal" (Wen Zhengming yin) and a relief seal with his style name "Hengshan".
  The scroll is inscribed with Wen Zhengming's calligraphy of a poem of his composition called Facing the Wine (Duijiu). The poem is included in Collection of Putian (Putian ji). This manuscript fuses the calligraphy conceptions of Wang Xizhi (303-361, or 321-379) and Zhao Mengfu (1253-1322). The strokes are straight and smooth and upright with clear and flexible pauses and transitions, revealing a courtly flavor.