Zhang Sengyou(张僧繇)
Zhang Sengyou(张僧繇)
Zhang Sengyou(张僧繇) (479 – ?), Chinese, Six Dynasties (220–589) A.D., A pivotal figure in the Six Dynasties art, Zhang Sengyou served as a court painter under Emperor Wu of Liang, holding titles like Right Army General and Wuxing Governor. Renowned for integrating Indian "convex-concave" techniques (early chiaroscuro) into Buddhist murals, he pioneered the "Zhang School" style marked by plump figures and dynamic brushwork. His "sparse brushwork" (Shuti), characterized by minimalist yet expressive strokes, revolutionized traditional line-focused painting. Legends like "dotting the dragon's eyes" to animate painted creatures cemented his mythical status. A core member of the "Six Dynasties Three Masters" alongside Gu Kaizhi and Lu Tanwei, his innovations laid groundwork for Tang masters like Wu Daozi.
  • Snow Mountain and Red Trees Scroll, Six Dynasties

    Snow Mountain and Red Trees Scroll, Six Dynasties

    Zhang Sengyou(张僧繇) (Chinese, 479 – ?)

    A scholar contemplates the vista from a pavilion, while a visitor on a donkey crosses a frost-laden bridge, their postures subtly conveying winter’s bite and literati resilience