Shrnutí
Twelve Views of Landscape (Shan-shui shih-erh-ching) is recorded as the most famous painting of Xia Gui; it is held by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City. Of the 2 works by Xia Gui recorded in the catalogue, the 2 best known are listed below, each entry with its date, the holding museum and a note on the work.
Entries 1 to 10: the most famous Xia Gui paintings
Xia Gui: holding museums
2 muzea, v nichž je umístěno nejvíce obrazů z této stránky.
| Muzea | Město | Díla autora Xia Gui | Obrazy z tohoto seznamu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 1 | Twelve Views of Landscape (Shan-shui shih-erh-ching) | |
| Taipei | 1 | Pure and Remote View of Streams and Mountains |
Questions frequently consulted on Xia Gui's paintings
What is the best-known work of Xia Gui?Display the answer
Twelve Views of Landscape (Shan-shui shih-erh-ching).
How many works by Xia Gui does the catalogue record?Display the answer
The catalogue records 2 works by Xia Gui.
Where are the principal works of Xia Gui held?Display the answer
Principally in Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City) a Národní palácové muzeum v Taipei (Taipei). The museum table above gives the full distribution.
Can reproductions of Xia Gui's works be ordered?Display the answer
Yes. Each work listed on this page can be ordered from its own entry as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in a size of your choice.
Biography of Xia Gui
The Legacy of the Ma-Xia School
Xia Gui was a Chinese landscape painter of the Song dynasty, most likely born in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. Alongside his contemporary Ma Yuan, he founded the influential Ma-Xia school. While much of his life remains unknown, he served in the Imperial Painting Academy during the reign of Emperor Ningzong. His artistic approach was characterized by a move away from highly detailed, complex compositions toward a more immediate and striking effect, often utilizing limited materials to achieve this impact.
His technical mastery is evident in his use of extremely subtle, graded ink washes and overlapping brushstrokes to create atmospheric effects of mist, sky, and infinity. He was noted for his ability to work with great ease and speed, often producing spontaneous creations on paper that absorbed ink quickly. Furthermore, Xia Gui was praised for his skill in drawing architecture freehand without the use of a ruler.
Notable Works and Artistic Style
The surviving works of Xia Gui include various genres, such as small album leaves and hand scrolls. His technique often featured perfectly balanced diagonal compositions where void and solid mass played equally important roles. Notable examples of his work include:
His influence extended far beyond his own era, impacting the Japanese master Sesshū Tōyō, who was influenced by Xia's idiom and made studies of his landscape fans.