Zhang Yanyuan (simplified Chinese:张彦远;traditional Chinese:張彥遠;pinyin:Zhāng Yànyuǎn;Wade–Giles:Chang Yenyüan, c. 815- c. 877),courtesy nameAibin (爱宾), was a Chinese art historian, calligrapher, and painter of the lateTang dynasty.
Zhang was born to a high-ranking civil official family in present-dayYuncheng, Shanxi. He wrote several works aboutart andChinese calligraphy, among themFashu Yaolu (法書要錄, "Compendium of Calligraphy"), a collection of poems on color paper, andLidai Minghua Ji (歷代名畫記, "Famous Paintings through History"), a general arts book about famous historical paintings. Zhang created his own style of art history writing, combining historical facts andart criticism. His book also described the painter's lives thoroughly, including biography and works.[1]
Zhang's art theory consists of several distinctive features. He agreed with the theory ofXie He that art had moral and political functions; he stressed the importance of originality and creativity in painting, opposing to stereotyped painting styles; and he was adamant that the painter's background had a great influence on the painting.[citation needed]
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