Ma Yuan

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou; Southern Song dynasty

Ma Yuan, also known as Yaofu or Qinshan, was a painter born in Qiantang (present day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He was a descendant of the renowned Ma family of painters. Most notably, he was the grandson of Ma Xingzu and the nephew of Ma Gongxian. Like several other members of his family, he served as a painter-in-attendance at the Imperial Painting Academy. He was often compared to Xia Gui; together they were called Ma Xia. Alongside Li Tang, Liu Songnian, and Xia Gui, he is considered one of the Four Great Painters of the Southern Song dynasty.
Ma was skilled in painting landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds. Under the guidance of Li Tang, he developed a style in which he combined bold and powerful ink strokes with simplistic and vivid colors. He was particularly adept in painting water in wavering lines, reflecting his close observation of nature and his excellent depiction skills. His paintings often featured a heavily detailed corner, set against a distant background wrought in a simple wash. This stark contrast created a notable spatial impression and was referred to as Ma’s Corner. His works include Hanshan, kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing; Chan Master Fayan and Chan Master Yunmen, at Tenryuji Temple in Japan; and Master Dongshan Wading the Stream, kept at the Tokyo National Museum in Japan. The three latter paintings are listed as Important Cultural Properties of Japan and have annotations written by an Empress Yang Meizi of the Southern Song dynasty.