Li Anzhong

Dates of birth and death unknown. A Chinese painter who was active at the Chinese Painting Academy from the end of the Northern Song to the beginning of the Southern Song. Along with Li Di, he is one of the leading artists of the Academy style of flower and bird painting, and is said to be the creator of the national treasure "Quail" (Nezu Museum, Tokyo). He entered the Xuanhe Painting Academy (1119-25) during the reign of Emperor Huizong, and after traveling south to the Song Dynasty, he returned to his position at the Shaoxing Painting Academy (1131-62) during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, where he was awarded a gold sash. He excelled in his paintings of flowers, birds, and running animals using gold leaf and color-filled paintings, and was praised for his skill in particularly depicting the split-second movements of birds of prey attacking small animals. In Japan, he has been famous since the Muromachi period as a master of quail paintings, and there are many quail paintings attributed to Li Anzhong. His sons, Li Ying and Li Gongmao, were also flower and bird painters.

[Shinya Hoshiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。中国、北宋(ほくそう)末から南宋初期の画院で活躍した画家。李迪(りてき)とともに院体花鳥画を代表する作家で、国宝の『鶉(うずら)図』（東京・根津美術館）の作者と伝える。徽宗(きそう)の宣和(せんな)（1119～25）画院に入り、宋室の南渡後、高宗の紹興（1131～62）画院に復職し、金帯を賜った。鉤勒填彩(こうろくてんさい)による花鳥、走獣図に優れ、とくに猛禽(もうきん)が小動物を襲う一瞬の動きの表現に巧みと評されたが、わが国では室町時代より鶉絵の名手として有名で、李安忠作と称する鶉図が多く見受けられる。彼の子の李瑛、李公茂も花鳥画家である。

［星山晋也］

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