Liu Songnian

He was active from about 1190-1230 and is considered one of the Four Masters of the Southern Song dynasty, which also included Li Tang, Ma Yuan and Xia Gui.

[1] He studied and worked at the Imperial Academy of Painting in Hangzhou, capital of the Southern Song dynasty.

Liu entered the Southern Song Imperial Academy of Painting as a student in 1189, and went on to become a painter-in-attendance from 1190 to 1194.

[2] During the reign of Emperor Ningzong of Song, he received a prestigious award for his work.

Liu's style influenced the work of Ma Yuan and Xia Gui.

A Children's Puppet Show by Liu Songnian
"Three Sages Appreciating Antique" by Liu Songnian. Polychrome on silk. Southern Song Dynasty (abt 1300 CE). Private collection.
"Four Generals of Zhongxing" by Liu Songnian: Depicted were four generals regarded by Liu as having contributed greatly to the defence of Southern Song: Yue Fei (second from left), Zhang Jun (fourth from left), Liu Guangshi (second from right) and Han Shizhong (fourth from right)