Yan Liben. Yan Liben, formally Baron Wenzhen of Boling, was a Chinese painter, administrator and politician of the early Tang Dynasty.
His most famous work, possibly the only genuine survival, is the Thirteen Emperors Scroll. He also painted the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion, under Emperor Taizong of Tang, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 great scholars who served Emperor Taizong when he was the Prince of Qin.
Yan's paintings included painted portraits of various Chinese emperors from the Han Dynasty up until the Sui Dynasty period. His works were highly regarded by the Tang writers Zhu Jingxuan and Zhang Yanyuan, who noted his paintings were works among the glories of all times.
From the years 669 to 673, Yan Liben also served as a chancellor under Emperor Taizong's son Emperor Gaozong. A record of 1120 gives 42 titles of his paintings, though the Thirteen Emperors Scroll is not among them.
Only four Buddhist subjects are listed, against 12 Daoist. The remainder are portraits, gods of the planets and constellations or records of events at court. Of the surviving works attributed to him, the Thirteen Emperors Scroll is the first that is generally accepted as being partly original, though much of it seems later. A similar figure of an emperor in fresco in the Mogao Caves, might be by
His most famous work, possibly the only genuine survival, is the Thirteen Emperors Scroll. He also painted the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion, under Emperor Taizong of Tang, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 great scholars who served Emperor Taizong when he was the Prince of Qin.
Yan's paintings included painted portraits of various Chinese emperors from the Han Dynasty up until the Sui Dynasty period. His works were highly regarded by the Tang writers Zhu Jingxuan and Zhang Yanyuan, who noted his paintings were works among the glories of all times.
From the years 669 to 673, Yan Liben also served as a chancellor under Emperor Taizong's son Emperor Gaozong. A record of 1120 gives 42 titles of his paintings, though the Thirteen Emperors Scroll is not among them.
Only four Buddhist subjects are listed, against 12 Daoist. The remainder are portraits, gods of the planets and constellations or records of events at court. Of the surviving works attributed to him, the Thirteen Emperors Scroll is the first that is generally accepted as being partly original, though much of it seems later. A similar figure of an emperor in fresco in the Mogao Caves, might be by
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