Cao Zhongyuan

CHINA, Jiangxi, Yichan; Southern Tang Kingdom

Cao Zhongyuan, also known as Cao Zhongxuan, was an artist from Fengcheng, Jiangxi, who was skilled in Buddhist and spiritual paintings. He served as painter-in-attendance in the Hanlin Academy. Initially an imitator of the style of the renowned Tang dynasty (618–907) painter, Wu Daozi, he later invented his own style. He was especially good at mixing colors and his works were ranked among the best of religious paintings from the Southern Tang Kingdom (937–975).
Emperor Li Jing (reigned 943–961) of the Southern Tang Kingdom once ordered him to paint the stone walls of Baozhi Temple. The resulting mural was awe-striking and was replicated in various Daoist temples in Jiangnan. Later, he was requested to paint the murals at Jianye Temple, a task which took nine years to complete. Xuanhe Catalog of Paintings contains 41 works by Cao. Additionally, his works are listed in Overview of Painting, Evaluation of Painters of the Past and Present, and Addendum to Famous Paintings of the Five Dynasties.