Who painted Buildings on a Mountainside?

Buildings on a Mountainside was painted by Xiao Zhao in 1200.

Where can I see Buildings on a Mountainside?

Buildings on a Mountainside is held by National Palace Museum.

Artwork

Buildings on a Mountainside

Buildings on a Mountainside is an unspecified painting by Xiao Zhao. It dates from 1200 and is held in the collection of the National Palace Museum.

About this work

Overview

Buildings on a Mountainside is a landscape painting attributed to Xiao Zhao, a Chinese artist active in the 12th century. The work is part of the National Palace Museum's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a serene mountainous landscape with a prominent rocky mountain on the left, a river on the right, and buildings nestled on the mountainside. The composition conveys a sense of calmness.

Technique & Style

Xiao Zhao employed meticulous detail in rendering rocks and trees, utilizing varied color shading to achieve depth. The hazy background contrasts with the foreground's clarity, enhancing the spatial illusion.

History & Provenance

Attributed to Xiao Zhao, a pupil of Li Tang, the painting is dated to around 1200, despite the artist's known activity from 1130 to 1162. It is now held in the National Palace Museum's collection.

Context

As a work of 12th-century Chinese landscape painting, it reflects the tradition of capturing natural beauty and possibly the contemplative or spiritual aspects associated with such scenes.

Artist & collection

Artist

Xiao Zhao

Xiao Zhao (Hsiao Chao) was a Chinese painter active from 1130 to 1162, from Hu-tse, Shanxi. He was a pupil of Li Tang. A crater on Mercury is named after him.