Qiu Ying
Master of meticulous blue-green landscape painting
Qiu Ying(仇英) (c. 1505–1552), courtesy name Shifu, also written Shifu, art name Shizhou, was from Taicang (now part of Jiangsu Province) and later moved to Suzhou. He was a painter during the Ming Dynasty and one of the Four Masters of the Wu School. Qiu Ying came from a humble background, initially working as a lacquer craftsman and painting beams and ceilings. Later, he switched to learning painting. In Suzhou, he became acquainted with many famous contemporaries, gained the favor of Wen Zhengming, and studied painting under Zhou Chen. By middle age, his reputation as a painter grew, and he frequently received invitations from wealthy merchants and collectors to paint at their homes. In the 11th year of the Jiajing reign (1532), Qiu Ying, responding to an invitation from Wang Chong, painted 'Garden Dwelling' for Wang Xianchen's Zhuozheng Garden and received high praise. In the 16th year of Jiajing (1537), he was invited by the major Kunshan collector Zhou Fenglai and stayed at his studio for six years. In the 26th year of Jiajing (1547), Qiu Ying painted at the home of collector Xiang Yuanbian, where he got to see over a thousand works by famous Song and Yuan painters. Through careful study and diligent copying, his painting skills greatly advanced, and he eventually became famous for his exquisite and versatile talent. In his later years, he maintained close relationships with Wen Zhengming and his students, while also absorbing the strengths of the 'Wu School' of literati painting, which added an elegant touch to his works. His reputation was on par with Shen, Wen, and Tang, securing his place as one of the Four Masters of the Wu School. Qiu Ying passed away around the 31st year of Jiajing (1552). Qiu Ying was one of the great ancient Chinese painters who dedicated his life to the art. His diligence and meticulous approach to painting were admired by Dong Qichang, who remarked: 'When Shifu is painting, he hears no noise from drums, as if oblivious to the sound of jewelry clanking next door.' Qiu Ying studied the 'Six Principles' in depth, excelling in figures, landscapes, animals, and architectural paintings. He was skilled at copying classical works and had a spontaneous brushwork style described as 'exquisite, bright, and graceful, without shame before the ancients.' Building on the excellent traditions of the Tang and Song, he also drew from folk and literati painting, creating his own style, with remarkable achievements in both blue-and-green landscapes and meticulous figure painting. His surviving representative works include 'Peach Blossom Wonderland,' 'Fan with Calligraphy of Right General,' 'Waiting to Cross on an Autumn River,' and 'Figures and Stories.' His painting style had a profound influence on later Ming painters like You Qiu and Qing artists like Yu Zhiding.