Zhao Boju
Master of meticulous blue-green landscapes
Zhao Boju(赵伯驹) (exact birth and death dates unknown), courtesy name Qianli, was a painter from the Southern Song royal family, mainly active in the early to mid-12th century. At the beginning of the Jianyan era, he held the position of Military and Administrative Officer in Eastern Zhejiang. His paintings were especially known for blue-and-green landscapes, blending ink techniques with the grand blue-and-green style tradition of Li Sixun(李思训) and his son from the Tang dynasty. He developed a unique style that was both highly meticulous and full of scholarly spirit. He was also skilled in painting flowers, fruits, birds' feathers, and architectural scenes. After moving south, Zhao Boju settled in Qiantang (modern-day Hangzhou). He was appreciated by Emperor Gaozong of Song for his fan paintings and collaborated with his younger brother Zhao Boxu on screens for the Jixian Hall. One of his surviving works, "Autumn Scenery of the Rivers and Mountains," uses blue-and-green coloring with a grand and detailed layout. The rocks are painted using the small-axe stroke technique, and the work bears seals from the Qing imperial collection as well as Ming dynasty inscriptions and titles. His father Zhao Lingrang(赵令穰) and his brother Zhao Boxu(赵伯骕) were also well-known painters of the Song dynasty.