Ding Yunpeng
Master of fine-line Buddhist figure painting
Ding Yunpeng(丁云鹏) (1547-1628), courtesy name Nanyu(南羽), also known as Shenghua Jushi(圣华居士), was from Xiuning, Anhui, and was a painter during the Ming Dynasty. He specialized in fine-line figure painting and Buddhist themes, following the styles of Li Gonglin and Qian Xuan. In middle age, his brushwork was delicate and elegant, similar to Wen Zhengming and Qiu Ying, but in his later years, he shifted to a more simple, robust style, developing his own distinctive approach. He served in the imperial court for more than ten years and was friends with Dong Qichang and Zhan Jingfeng. Dong Qichang even gave him a seal named 'Haosheng Guan' in praise of his painting skills. Ding was active in creating artwork from the Wanli to the Tianqi periods. His representative works include 'Sweeping Elephants,' 'White Horse Driving Sutras,' and illustrations for 'The Cheng Family Ink Garden.' 'Sweeping Elephants' is noted for its meticulous line work and ancient sense of style. His figure paintings are ranked alongside Chen Hongshou and Cui Zizhong. His landscapes draw from Song and Yuan styles but maintain a rustic, ancient look. He contributed to illustrations for works like 'The Cheng Family Ink Garden' and 'Fang's Ink Manual,' and cooperated with Wu Yu on the engraved edition of 'Xuanhe Bo Gu Tu Lu.' Many of his later works are now housed in institutions like the Palace Museum and the Shanghai Museum.