Yan Liben
A Life of Brush and Bureaucracy In the early years of the Tang dynasty, a man named Yan Liben moved through the imperial halls of Chang'an with a dual identity that defined his very existence. He was a high official, a politician who climbed the ranks to serve as chancellor under Emperor Gaozong, yet his true essence resided in the tip of his brush. Born into a family where art and administration were inextricably linked, he learned th…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Yan Liben's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Yan Liben's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.