Xie Qian

CHINA; Southern Liang dynasty

Xie Qian was a painter who specialized in creating images of the Buddha, deities, and human figures. He studied under Nie Song and Qu Daomin, and mastered the art of painting murals in temples. Continuation of Classification of Ancient Painters considers Xie’s murals to be of the most ingenious ones in existence. Many of Xie’s works were murals painted at Zide Temple and Dinglin Temple in Jiangsu.
Alongside Zhang Sengyao, he painted murals at Tianhuang Temple in Hubei. Four of Xie’s other paintings were listed in Painting Annals of the Zhenguan Period, which include Lady Ding Playing Pipa, Nine Demons, and the Five Heavenly Beings.