Song Wenzhi

Song Wenzhi is considered one of the most prominent artists of the Jinling school. Born in Taicang, Jiangsu, he first studied the works of the Four Wangs (17th century) under Zhang Shiuan in Shanghai. Later, he followed the well-known painter and connoisseur Wu Hufan (1894-1968) and was exposed to important Song and Yuan collections in the city. In 1957 Song joined the Jiangsu Painting Academy where he came under the influence of Fu Baoshi (1904-1965). During the early sixties Fu Baoshi led members of the academy on extensive expeditions to six provinces to sketch and paint from nature. Greatly inspired by the landscapes he saw on the journey, Song's paintings became freer and more spontaneous. His landscapes capture the remarkable beauty and atmosphere of the Jiangnan area, particularly scenes along the Yangzi River. He is especially skillful in applying texture strokes and washes. Song Wenzhi is now the Vice Director of the Jiangsu Painting Academy and a council member of the Chinese Artists Association. His work has been exhibited widely in China and abroad.