A esthetic standards of beauty in the Tang Dynasty are uniquely different to .that of today, a constant dinner table talking point especially when modern living has brought so much pressure to maintain the standards of today. They appreciated the beauty of rich and luxurious living and admired full and plump bodies of court ladies. The many sculptures and paintings survived from that period provide a glimpse into this aesthetic standard. The so called “Qiluo Characters” often portrayed in the arts have the representative characteristics of this aesthetic standard, with a full and plump body, chubby cheek, curved eyebrows, thin eyes, relaxed postures, and fulfilled and happy facial expressions. The historians consider they were a reflection of opulent livings led by the imperial and noble houses and it was also the fashion imitated by the general public at large.
The most famous painters associated with “Qiluo Characters” are Zhang Xuan (date of birth unknown and active career period was from 713 t0 755 AD) and Zhou Fang (date of birth also unknown and two active career periods were from 766 to 799 and from 785 t0 804 AD). During the reign of the Xuanzong emperor (712 t0 755 AD), Zhang Xuan had served as a royal painter and he was famous for his skill on figure paintings. Records indicate he was also keen to explore various ways to paint other subjects such as pavilions, forests, birds and flowersl But he was most devoted to depict court ladies of opulent and rich livings. His paintings are associated with many social activities such as spring out, snow day sightseeing, dressing up, hiding and seeking, and music instrument playing. Zhou Fang was born into an aristocrat family. “Xuanhe Collection of Paintings” wrote: “he often visited the rich and beautiful and was good at painting nobles with opulent living, depicting the beauty of plumpness.” Both of their works have been among the favourites for collection by the emperors of many dynasties, especially the artist Huizong emperor of the Song Dynasty. He collected seventy or so works of Zhou Fang alone. Only through his copies, do we still have the opportunity to see the most representative paintings of Zhang Xuan, Guo State Queen Spring Out and Court Ladies Preparing for the Newly Woven Silk.
Guo State Queen Spring Out is a magnificent scroll. The painting was completed during a time when it was fashionable to pursuing new trends and styles to depict the newly found confidence and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. However Zhang Xuan adopted a more realism approach for the painting, resonating with the epic poem of Du Fu “the Beauty”. It describes an occasion when Guo State Queen went on a sightseeing tour. A column of saddle horses and their riders stroll along and are randomly packed to various small groups. The painting is focused to depict the figures portrayed, using strong but slim lines and balanced colors, rich bright but fresh and elegant, meticulous but without dullness. Gua State Queen are elegantly dressed and accompanied by servants and court ladies, enjoying the sights of a spring day out. There are nine characters in the painting, eight horses, and a baby carried by a court lady, adding some vivid breezes of life into the picture. The Tang Dynasty is renowned for the love of saddle horses, from the emperors, court ladies, and noblemen to court officials alike. Zhang Xuan displayed a great deal of skill in painting horses and earned himself a famous reputation for the talent. The red horse ridden by Quo State Queen is so vividly portrayed and is given a special name Hualiu by historians, like his master, radiating grace and egance .
