Double Album of Miniature Landscape Paintings

Fang Shishu

1723

Ink and color on paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Two open books display miniature landscape paintings and calligraphy. A dark wooden box sits behind the books. Fang Shishu was born in Anhui province but grew up and worked in Yangzhou. He held the shengyuan civil service degree and, although generally categorized as a Qing orthodox literati artist, he is well known for his unusual refinement and sensitive brushwork. Fang was also recognized as one of the best poets of his generation as well as a calligrapher. <P>This rare and exquisite miniature album of twenty-four tiny landscapes and eight leaves of accompanying calligraphy is a masterpiece of the miniature genre. The beautiful and varied landscapes executed in extremely fine brush strokes all depict Buddhist temples, presumably visited b