明 沈度 行書致鏞翁札 冊頁|Letter to Liang Zhongren

Shen Du

Date unknown · Album leaf; ink on paper · Asian Art

Shen Du was one of Song Ke's (1327–1387) most important followers. He is best known for his precise regular script in the manner of Zhao Mengfu (1254–1322), whose style he helped to establish as the orthodox model for Ming government documents and even printed books. His more informal writing also follows Zhao's style; in both cases, however, Shen's calligraphy shows fewer variations and nuances of brush movement. This letter was once part of Emperor Qianlong's (r. 1736–95) collection. Preserved in rubbing form in the Sanxitang imperial anthology of 1747, such informal writings are valued by connoisseurs as intimate expressions of artists' personalities.

Artist

Shen Du

Date

Date unknown

Medium

Album leaf; ink on paper

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., 1988