| Among the artists on the scroll of fame, the "Four-Wangs in Early Qing Dynasty" stand magnificently, thanks to the great time in the history of Chinese painting and calligraphy that endowed them with the of heritage of the late sage in the past thousand years and the essence of the masters of various schools. They have been recognized as the "Royal Painting School" by the Court of Qing Dynasty. The followers classified them into the two schools of "Loudong" and "Yushan".Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Hui and Wang Yuanqi, the contemporaries in early Qing Dynasty, are honored as the "Four-Wangs in Early Qing Dynasty" in the history of painting.Generally, historians classify Wang Shimin, Wang Jian and Wang Yuanqi into the "Loudong School", while Wang Hui is known as the founder of "Yushan School". In a real sense, Wang Jian does not belong to "Loudong School". At the very beginning, Wang Jian belonged to "Yushan School" of Wang Hui instead of "Loudong School". Compared with Wang Jian and Wang Shimin, these two Wangs had somehow different experience of life and course of learning. Although they have similar source, they are different in school of learning and focus, resulting in their wide different style of painting and calligraphy and different group of followers and influence. Wang Shimin is recognized as "Leader of Painting", while Wang Jian as "Model of Later Generations". Similarities can be found, however, when comparing Wang Jian and Wang Hui in terms of extensive learning, integration of essence of masters, thick and heavy colors and representation of hills and valleys. More importantly, Wang Hui found his way of painting under instruction of Wang Jian. Therefore, in Wang Hui's time, Wang Jian is closely associated with Wang Hui.Over time the study on Wang Jian has been extremely lacking, which is only occasionally mentioned when discussing about Wang Shimin. From time to time, Wang Jian and Wang Shimin are regarded as "Two-Wangs". Worsened by the misleading of some painting historians, Wang Jian is classified into "Loudong School" and reluctantly put in the last place in "Three-Wangs" of the School. This dilutes and even effaces the distinctive artistic style and unique contribution of Wang Jian.Wang Jian's career of painting art can be roughly divided into early, middle and late stages respectively ranging from year 29-41, 42-65 and 65-later. It is observed from these three stages of painting that his style and technique derived from Dong Yuan, Ju Ran and Wang Meng. His paintings vary from wash, lightcrimson and green landscape paintings featuring vigorous and gorgeous style of drawing, thick ink, luxuriant pattern and composition of classic elegance.A "school of painting" shall have the following elements: 1) ideology of painting study; 2) thread of teaching and learning; and 3) distinctive style of painting. Provincialism, however, is negligible. Specifically, the painters of the same school shall have the same or similar ideology of painting study and style of painting, and have certain mentor-disciple relationship. The main style of the school shall have a founder and a group of successors and followers so as to form an influential tide of thought of art. The location could be an objective condition for formation of these elements, although not the direct or decisive factor for formation of a school of painting.The article expatiates and discusses the historical background and cause of formation of the schools of painting, and further explores Wang Jian's personal life, his learning course, his scope of mentors and disciples and his style of painting as well as his influence in the painting circle and change of his ascription of schools by appropriately comparing him with Wang Shimin and Wang Hui in view of their connections. By providing the author's personal opinion and understanding, it is hopeful to shed light on Wang Jian's painting and calligraphic art and give him a more accurate position in the history. |
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