Landscapes

Gao Cen is traditionally grouped with the Eight Masters of Jinling. Like those Nanjing professional artists—notably Fan Qi (1616–after 1694) and Ye Xin (act. ca. 1640–1673)—he was adept at painting in a minutely detailed and delicately colored style. In this album Gao also demonstrates his command of earlier traditions by rendering intimate views of local scenery in the styles of various antique masters. A bucolic springtime scene of a rustic dwelling set amid blossoming trees and rice paddies recalls the rural landscapes of Zhao Lingrang (act. ca. 1070– after 1100). Earthen mountains defined by hemp-fiber texture strokes and viewed through a foreground grove suggest the work of Juran (active ca. 960–95). Wintry trees and circling crows evoke the imagery of Li Cheng (919–967). A view of the first Ming emperor’s mausoleum gate and stele hall at the foot of Bell Mountain is rendered in the soft texture dots of Mi Fu (1052–1107). An autumnal landscape with a thatched pavilion beside a waterfall recalls the dense compositions of Wang Meng (ca. 1308– 1385). Riverside dwellings beneath a cloudlike mountain blend the idioms of Dong Yuan (active 930s–960s) and Guo Xi (ca. 1000–ca.1090). A looming peak built up of clustered outcrops recalls the style of Huang Gongwang (1269– 1354). A gentleman in a skiff passing beneath a cliffside temple evokes the vigorous brushwork and dramatic compositions of Wu Zhen (1280–1354).