The Middle Ming Suzhou Paintings Used And Collectors Groups

The research of the connoisseurship and collection of Chinese painting and calligraphy remains so far an area yet to be explored deeply. I dove into the study by researching the Ming dynasty's connoisseur and collection community in Suzhou, which is of a representative significance. During an approximately 100 year long period between Emperor ChengHua's reign and Eperor Jiajing's reign, the Suzhou area supported not only a calligraphy and painting community of the Wumen School, but also a community of connoisseurs and collectiors that were mostly made up by Wumen literati. The two communities shared most of the same members, as well as the same ups and downs during their history. Recognized as gurus of two consecutive Wumen artistic generations, Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming were also the cores of the connoisseurship and collection community due to their profoundness in learning in addition to their accomplishments in calligraphy and painting. By probing into historical dossiers, collections, and the record of communicative activities between collectors, this article endeavors to offer a multi-perspective study on the Ming Suzhou connoisseurs and collectors, as well as their activities, methodology, works, collection circulation status', and collectors' financial situations. The article points out how Suzhou's once thriving community of connoisseurship and collection has had a constructive influence on Wumen calligraphy and painting. This collection of ancient calligraphic and painted works has contributed in an indispensable way to the most influential artistic school during the Ming---Wumen.