This is the caption of image number 1Xu Wei (1521-1593), Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Undated, hanging scroll, ink on paper, 125.5 × 33.5 cm

 

Xu Wei, courtesy name Wenchang with sobriquets "Tianchi Shanren" and "Qingteng Daoshi", was a native of Shanyin (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province). He was a legendary Ming artist with extraordinary accomplishments in literature, calligraphy, painting and drama. His calligraphy echoed the styles of Su Shi (1037-1101) and Mi Fu (1051-1107) while he carved out his own features with untrammeled strokes. His floral paintings drew on the freehand brushwork of preceding bird-and-flower masters such as Liang Kai (act. early 13th c.), Lin Liang (ca. 1436-1487) and Shen Zhou (1427-1509). However he boldly combined the techniques of wild cursive script and freehand ink-splash painting, revolutionizing traditional bird-and-flower painting to express strong, turbulent feelings. His works had a profound influence on subsequent Ming and Qing painters such as the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou", as well as modern artist including Qi Baishi (1864-1957). Xu Wei was accorded the same status as Chen Daofu (Chen Chun, 1483-1544). Together they were nicknamed with the first two characters of their sobriquets: "Qingteng Baiyang".
  The scroll is signed "Tianchi daoren Xu Wei" and affixed with two name seals reading "Wenchang" and "Quanqi".
  The scroll is inscribed with a poem by Xu Wei which is included in the seventh volume of Trilogy of Xu Wenchang (Xu Wenchang sanji). Several words and sentences are different from the printed edition of the texts.
Xu Wei's calligraphy features a bold and unconstrained style imbued with calm, elegant and forceful strokes, which was highly praised by other calligraphers. His friend and fellow townsman Tao Wangling (1562-1609) wrote a biography for Xu Wei titled The Biography of Xu Wenchang (Xu Wenchang zhuan) which commented on Xu Wei's running script and cursive script: "Xu Wei is expert in running script and cursive script, featuring particularly exquisite and splendid". The brush strokes in this scroll are not as unrestrained and continuous as those of cursive script; but they are more flexible and smooth than those of regular script. The artist freely varied the character patterns without any preciosity, demonstrating a simple and natural style.  (Editor:admin)