Manual of
Paintings by Famous Masters of Successive Periods
Ming
dynasty (1368�1644), Wanli period (1573�1619)
Compiled
by Gu Bing (fl. 1594�1603); proofread and edited by Xu Shuhui; engraved by Liu
Guangxin
Hulin
[Hangzhou], Zhejiang Province: Shuanggui tang, 1603
White
folding margin at center of folio; single-line borders; overall dimensions of
volumes: 33.4 x 22.7 cm; block sizes of text: approx. 27.1 x 19.2 cm; block
sizes of illustrations irregular; stitched binding
Inventory number: 01471
This
book, popularly known as the Gu shi hua pu (Master Gu's Manual of
Painting), is a collection of copies of painted compositions by famous artists
of successive dynasties by Gu Bing, a painter from the Hangzhou area who served
briefly at the imperial court.
Gu
Bing's manual is an illustrated history of Chinese painting narrated through
the works of 106 artists from the Jin dynasty (317�420) and from most of the
Ming dynasty (1368�1644), each represented by a single selection.� The scope of subjects covered is broad and
includes landscapes, bird-and-flower compositions, and figural works.� As a rule, pictures appear on the recto of
folios, while accompanying inscriptions (brief biographies and background
information on the artists in the form of colophons) are on the verso.� The various scales and formats of Chinese
painting are standardized to fit within the uniform rectangular dimensions of
the woodblock.� The Lidai minggong hua pu
appealed to professional as well as amateur artists as a handy reference to
painting styles and compositions from many centuries and has been reprinted
many times since.
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