The Research On Portrait Painting In Yuan Dynasty

As a branch of figure painting, portrait painting is synchronized with it in its commencement, development and maturity. However, it also has its own way of evolution, along which unique patterns, styles and techniques of portrait painting have been formed and its distinctive characteristics in different historical periods are also displayed to people. Especially in Yuan Dynasty, an important period in Chinese history, great achievements in portrait painting was made, which is known to all people in art field.After Yuan ethnic minorities invaded the central China, they made use of the Han culture and urged the Sino-foreign economic and cultural exchanges while implementing the national policies of discrimination. Under such special circumstances which were full of contradictions, the painting in this period underwent a radical change. On one hand, the literati painting originated in Song Dynasty still held a mainstream position while portrait painting was disdained by the literati, on the other hand, the ruling class and the public had much demand for portraits and the payment was also great, and thus more and more portraitists emerged. Thorefore it can be concluded that the branching off of portrait painting with the literati painting mad more and more professional portraitists, who created their own distinct characteristics in portrait painting and finally achieved great success in this field.In terms of practice and theory of portrait painting in Yuan Dynasty, Wang Yi can be regarded as a greatly important person. He was once described as a portraitist who was studious in his study and creative in thoughts. His portraits not only resemble the looks of people but also got their spirits. His portraits have more line drawing but less vague dying. Wang Yi wrote a great book named The Secret of Portrait Painting, which is the earliest theoretical writing survived in this world. The book, as a valuable record of all the essential thoughts of Wang Yi, can be seen as a far-reaching works in the history of Chinese painting.On the basis of inheriting the predecessors, the pragmatic, rustic atmosphere of Yuan Dynasty made portrait painting of this time further develop in the direction of realism, which was prevalent at that time. Besides, the separation of portrait painting from literati painting contributed the diversity of art forms and expression methods of portrait painting. In addition to the professional portraitists, many literati painters sometimes came out works just for rewarding intimate friends or appreciating themselves. However, due to the different classes of the painters, their portraits are generally different in the aim of painting and art quality. Thus their portraits often showed different features, reflecting the characteristic of the Yuan Dynasty portrait painting----diversity.The portrait painting of Yuan Dynasty plays its unique function of enlightenment and appreciation in its process of development and maturation. Meanwhile, all the precious works of portraits and important theoretical writings handed down from Yuan Dynasty are of very high artistic value and enrich the treasure house of Chinese art and have a very important role in the painting history of China.