Zhao Fu
Tang flower-bird master
Zhao Fu (lived around the mid-Tang dynasty) was a painter during the Tang dynasty. His courtesy name was Zizhong, and he was also known as Furu or Fusheng. He was originally from Caizhou (now De'an County, Jiangxi Province). It’s said that Zhao Fu loved calligraphy and painting from a young age, and gradually became a painter. His painting style was unique and earned him lots of praise at the time, being called 'the number one painter of the Tang dynasty.' Zhao Fu mainly painted flowers and birds, with strong brushwork, bright colors, and smooth lines. His works were rich and harmonious, vivid and lifelike, praised as 'peerless, brilliantly executed, hard to tell real from fake, and subtly profound.' His paintings are considered a precious legacy of Tang flower-and-bird art.