Du Nigui

CHINA; Former Shu Kingdom

Du Nigui was born in Qin (present day Gansu and Shanxi regions), but later lived in Shu (present day Sichuan). He was a well-known figure painter who followed the teachings of Chang Cui. Du was also skill in painting Buddhist images.
After the erection of an ancestral hall, Emperor Wang Yan (reigned 918–925) of the Early Shu kingdom ordered Du to paint a mural portraying all 21 emperors of the Tang dynasty (618–907). Du was consequently appointed painter-in-attendance at the Hanlin Academy and was honored with the purple robe and golden fish pouch.
According to Records of Famous Paintings in Yizhou, Du painted the portrait of Monk Yousheng on the eastern corridor of Avatamsaka Pavilion at Daci Temple in Sichuan. He also created the mural of Vairocana Buddha at Daci Temple, in addition to paintings of Twelve-Headed Avalokitesvara, Mahamayuri Bodhisattva, Sakyamuni Buddha, and Sixteen Arhats. Xuanhe Catalog of Paintings lists 14 of his artworks, and his paintings are also recorded in Overview of Painting and Evaluation of Painter.