Li Song

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou; Southern Song dynasty

Li Song was a painter from Qiantang (present day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He was the adopted son of Li Congxun, a painter-in-attendance during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). He acquired his painting skills with proficiency in Buddhist and Daoist figures and landscapes. He was an influential artist of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) and served as the painter-in-attendance in the Imperial Academy during the rules of Emperor Guangzong (reigned 1189–1194), Emperor Ningzong (reigned 1194–1224), and Emperor Lizong (reigned 1224–1264).
Li’s painting of Arhats are drawn in flowing lines and appear colorful and vivid. His works include the Knickknack Peddler, a set of three paintings kept in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA, and the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, USA.