A Research Into Wang Keyu’s Collection Of Painting And Calligraphy And Art Exchange

Wang Keyu is an important collector of painting and calligra phy from Jiaxing in late Ming Dynasty. In his whole life, he couldn’t be able to become a Jingshi, a successful cand idate in the highest imperial examinations. It is possible t hat he has obtained a lower-level position as the Secretary for Transport of Salt in Shandong province through donations, but his official career lasts only a short year. Coral Ne twork, he contributes to the history of calligraphy and pain ting, is a cataloging book in perfect compilation format, in cluding the former part of recording the previous inscription s and the later part of attaching his own comment. Although as a cataloging book, it features the materials with the notes presented in Wang’s comment. These materials, if appro priately used, can become the valid evidences to explore Wan g’s painting and calligraphy. This paper starts from the ma terials collected and recorded in Coral Network, especially t he scholars’notes, chronicles, calligraphy, paintings and ot her materials, and then discusses Wang’s family life, reside nce, social life and so on. On this basis, further analysis will be given on Wang’s role in the art transaction and circulation and his aesthetic purport on calligraphy and pa inting.