Yun Shouping 惲壽平

Yun Shouping (惲壽平) was a Chinese painter of the Ming dynasty, known for his exquisite flower-and-bird paintings. He was born in 1633 in the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and died in 1690. Yun was a prominent figure in the development of the Southern School of Chinese painting, which emphasized personal expression and a more spontaneous style compared to the more rigid Northern School. He studied under the renowned painter and calligrapher Chen Hongshou, which greatly influenced his artistic development. Yun's works are characterized by their delicate brushwork and vibrant colors, often depicting flowers, birds, and landscapes. His significant contributions to the art of flower painting have earned him a lasting legacy in Chinese art history, and he is regarded as one of the masters of this genre.