Qiu Ying

Qiu Ying (Chinese: 仇英; pinyin: Qiú Yīng; Wade–Giles: Ch'iu Ying; 1494? – 1552)[1] was a Chinese painter who specialized in the gongbi brush technique.

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Qiu.

Qiu Ying
The Imperial examinations, by Qiu Ying, 1540
Born	1494 Taicang, Jiangsu
Died	1552
Known for	Gongbi
Movement	Four Masters of the Ming dynasty
Patron(s)	Chen Guan, Zhou Fenglai (1523–1555), Xiang Yuanbian

Qiu Ying's courtesy name was Shifu (实父), and his art name was Shizhou (十洲). He was born to a peasant family in Taicang and studied painting under Zhou Chen in Suzhou.[1] Though Suzhou's Wu School encouraged painting in ink washes, Qiu Ying also painted in the green-and-blue style. He painted with the support of wealthy patrons, creating images of flowers, gardens, religious subjects, and landscapes in the fashions of the Ming dynasty. He incorporated different techniques into his paintings, and acquired a few wealthy patrons. His talent and versatility allowed him to become regarded as one of the Four Masters of the Ming dynasty.

Scroll illustrating The Heart Sutra, by Qiu Ying, AD 1543

Spring morning in the Han Palace, by Qiu Ying

Three of his best patrons were art collectors. One was Chen Guan from Suzhou. The other two were both younger than Qiu: Zhou Fenglai (1523–1555), from nearby Kunshan, and the well-known wealthy collector Xiang Yuanbian, whose home was in Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province.

His daughter, Qiu Zhu, was a noted professional artist in her own right, and influenced other female artists.

Notes

1. Cihai page 211.

References

• Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui (辞海编辑委员会). Ci hai (辞海). Shanghai: Shanghai ci shu chu ban she (上海辞书出版社), 1979.