Emperor Hui-tsung ; Framed, 18"X24"                                          (Original is Color and Ink on Silk. Size: 72.5"x49")

    Emperor Hui Tsung (1082-1135) whose personal name was Chao Chi ascended the throne in 1102. Even as a prince, he was already interested in art and literature, and his circle of acquaintances included many men of letters. His pictures of landscapes, flowers, birds and figures all showed a distinctive charm and individuality. He was particularly fond of painting birds; He spared no effort in observing their form and behaviour; and in order to make his pictures attractive, he employed lacquer instead of ink in painting bird's eyes. He developed a highly personal calligraphic style called "Slender Gold", characterized by strong and spiky brush strokes. He was also a discriminating collector. The Hsuan-Ho Hua-P'u, a catalogue of famous paintings which remains today an important-reference book for the study of Chinese painting, was complied under his order.