Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), The Lychee, hanging scroll

Ink and color on silk 296*119 cm

Attributed to Wen Zhengming with a later spurious inscription Wen Zhengming (1470-1559) named Bi, his zi (courtesy name) is Zhengming and later changed as Zhengzhong. His hao (literary name) is Hengshang or Hengshan Jushi. He was a native of Changzhou (in present-day Suzhou). He was a versatile artist, excelling in poetry, prose, painting, and calligraphy. A leading figure of the Wu School of Painting who was particular renown for his running and regular scripts, he is celebrated as one of the Four Great Masters of the Ming Dynasty alongside Shen Zhou, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying. His son, Wen Peng, also achieved fame as a grand master of Ming-Qing seal carving.