THE ROLE OF LEADING COURT OFFICIALS AS PATRONS OF PAINTING IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY

Abstract

Abstract In discussing eras during which painting flourished at court, historians of Chinese art generally have emphasized the role of imperial patronage. A key issue in earlier studies of the Ming painting academy has been how its organization differed from that of the Song academy. In the present study I shall focus instead on the contributions of influential court officials as the patrons and friends of leading artists. I shall argue that one reason they had a significant impact on the artistic climate at court was that their tastes did not always coincide with those of the emperors they served. This discussion will concentrate on the first half of the fifteenth century and on the roles of the following officials: Yang Shiqi (1365–1444), Yang Rong (1371–1440), Hu Yan (1361–1443), and Wang Zhi (1379–1462). Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong both helped make the grand secretariat a powerful government institution. Hu Yan served as chancellor of the National University, and Wang Zhi served for many years in the Han...