Qiu Ying

Qiu Ying was a Chinese painter who specialized in the gongbi brush technique, which means meticulous and detailed painting. He was born to a peasant family in Taicang, Jiangsu province, and moved to Suzhou later in his life. He learned painting from Zhou Chen, a famous painter of the Wu School, and became one of the Four Masters of the Ming dynasty. He was admired for his skill in painting figures, landscapes, architecture, and flowers. He also copied and imitated ancient works of the Tang and Song dynasties, and some of his copies were so good that they were mistaken for the originals. He had many wealthy patrons who supported his art, such as Chen Guan, Zhou Fenglai, and Xiang Yuanbian. He painted in various styles, such as blue-and-green, ink wash, and color. He was also influenced by literati painting, which emphasized personal expression and brushwork. He was very popular and influential in his time, and many professional artists imitated his paintings. Some of his famous works are Harp Player in a Pavilion, The Emperor Guangwu Fording a River, and Dwellings of the Immortals - Jade Cave Fairyland. He died in Taicang around 1552.