Gou Longshuang

CHINA, Sichuan; Northern Song dynasty

Gou Longshuang was a painter from Shu (present day Sichuan) who served as a court official in the Imperial Painting Academy during the rule of Emperor Shenzong (reigned 1067–1085) of the Northern Song dynasty. He specialized in Buddhist and Daoist portraiture, depicting ancient clothes and ornamentation with delicate and refined strokes. His paintings, graceful and natural, were highly praised works of art.
His depiction of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva at Putuoshan was recorded in Artworks of Deyuzhai. In the painting, Avalokitesvara is elegantly dressed and adorned with a pearl necklace. Other works include Folks Playing Music in Xicheng, which is retained at the Palace Museum in Beijing and Monk and Landscape, kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.