Mei Qing
Master of Huangshan's misty pines
Mei Qing(梅清) (1623–1697), originally named Shi Xi(士羲), courtesy name Yuangong(渊公), also known as Qushan(瞿山) and Jingtingshannong(敬亭山农), was from Xuancheng, Anhui. He was a painter and poet from the late Ming to early Qing dynasty. His representative paintings include the album 'Travel Notes of Huangshan,' the scroll 'High Mountains and Flowing Water,' and 'Nineteen Views of Huangshan.' He also authored poetry collections such as 'Tianyan Pavilion Collection,' 'Later Tianyan Pavilion Collection,' and 'A Brief Anthology of Qushan Poetry.' After failing the imperial exams in his early years, Mei Qing focused on painting. Starting around the age of 32, he traveled Huangshan multiple times, entering the mountains seven times and climbing to the peaks twice. Much of his work was inspired by the real scenery of Huangshan, and he claimed that 'most of it is Huangshan.' He excelled in using cloud rolls technique to depict twisted pines and seas of clouds. His style was elegant and lofty, and he was especially skilled at painting Huangshan pines, earning him the reputation of 'the best in the world.' He had a close friendship with Shi Tao, with both influencing each other’s artistic styles. Shi Tao's early landscapes were influenced by Mei Qing, while his later Huangshan paintings were influenced by Shi Tao. They are both considered among the three great masters of the Huangshan school of painting. Mei Qing also oversaw the reconstruction of Xuancheng's Yanshui Bridge. His works are now housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Anhui Museum. A painting he made at the age of 72, 'High Mountains and Flowing Water,' is currently in the Palace Museum.