Portraits of the Emperors
painting by Yan Liben
Quick Summary
Portraits of the Emperors is a significant hand scroll attributed to Yan Liben, a renowned Chinese painter of the early Tang dynasty (618–907). The artwork features a series of emperors from the preceding 800 years of Chinese history, though only the last seven portraits are original, with the first six being copies. Yan Liben masterfully conveyed subtly defined characters through precise linework and limited color application. His brother, Yan Lide, was also a notable official and painter.1
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