Qian Xuan

CHINA, Zhejiang, Huzhou; Southern Song to Yuan dynasty (1127–1368)

Qian Xuan was a painter who was also known as Shunju and Yutan. He became an Imperial Scholar after passing the imperial examination and, alongside Zhao Mengfu and six others, is regarded as one of the Eight Elites of Wuxing. Later after the fall of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), he focused on painting for the remainder of his life.
Qian was adept in painting figures, landscapes, and other forms of nature. His figurative style was reminiscent of Li Gongling’s, and he painted primarily Buddhist and Daoist characters, as well as honorable scholars. He became notable for his flower-bird paintings in which he emulated the style of Zhao Chang. His landscape paintings modeled after that of Zhao Qianli, utilized a contrast of strong and gentle strokes, complemented by a colorful ink wash. He was a strong advocate of employing traditional painting methods and avoided the practices commonly seen in the Southern Song dynasty.
Among Qian’s Buddhist works, Bodhidharma, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva Washing the Elephant, Arhats Crossing the Sea, and several others are kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.