Top Masterpieces: 3. Tang Dynasty. Yan Liben's "Emperor Taizong receiving the Tibetan envoy" (also called "Stepping Chariot" 3. 頂級名畫: 唐朝畫家閻立本《步辇圖》
Click on the painting to enlarge 點擊畫面放大
"Stepping Chariot" is one of China's top ten famous paintings handed down from generation to generation in the Palace Museum. This is one of the works of the Tang Dynasty painter Yan Liben. It depicts the scene in the 14th year of Zhenguan (640) when Songtsen Gampo, the Tibetan emperor, sent the envoy Lu Dongzan to Chang'an Tongpin to meet Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Silk, color, 38.5 cm in length , 129.6 cm in width, the work has elegant and gorgeous colors, smooth and round lines, and varied composition. It is a representative work of Tang Dynasty painting. The right half of the picture scroll shows Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty sitting in a chariot surrounded by palace ladies. The three people on the left are the ceremonial officer in front of him, Lu Dongzan in the middle, and the interpreter behind him. The image of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty is the focus of the whole picture. In the painting, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty has a handsome face, deep eyes, and a solemn expression, which fully demonstrates the style and majesty of a wise emperor in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The author highlights Taizong's supreme demeanor and uses contrasting techniques to highlight it. First, the petiteness and tenderness of the palace maids, their postures of holding fans or lifting chariots, sideways or upright, approaching or walking, are used as a contrast to the majesty, depth and concentration of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty; the second is to use the Lu Dongzan's sincerity, humility, solemnity and courtesy set off the solemn, peaceful and amiable attitude of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
Comments