| Chapter 1: | The Tang Tradition |
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He unfolded [his] Picture of Cangzhou on the jade steps;
A lone crane mistakenly echoed its painted companion.
"Perfect in the three [arts]" was inscribed by His Majesty;
Across the country people paid homage to this artist.
A lone crane mistakenly echoed its painted companion.
"Perfect in the three [arts]" was inscribed by His Majesty;
Across the country people paid homage to this artist.
In his masterpiece "Song of Painting: To General Cao Ba," Du Fu described the painter Cao Ba as Emperor Xuanzong's protégé:
In the reign of Kaiyuan [713-742], you were often granted
audiences with the Emperor,
And graced with frequent invitations to His Majesty's Nanxun
Palace.
Faded were the portraits of the statesmen and soldiers in
Lingyange [the imperial hall of fame];
Wielding your brush, you gave them a fresh look.
audiences with the Emperor,
And graced with frequent invitations to His Majesty's Nanxun
Palace.
Faded were the portraits of the statesmen and soldiers in
Lingyange [the imperial hall of fame];
Wielding your brush, you gave them a fresh look.
In the same poem, Du also wrote about Cao Ba being commissioned by Emperor Xuanzong to paint the emperor's pet horse Jade Flower:
Instantly, a real heavenly steed seemed to emerge in the palace,
Sweeping away all the common horses painted since ancient times.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
With a smile, the Emperor hurried his attendants to bring you gold;
His grooms and equerries all sighed in amazement.
Sweeping away all the common horses painted since ancient times.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
With a smile, the Emperor hurried his attendants to bring you gold;
His grooms and equerries all sighed in amazement.