Xu Ben

• Xu Ben excelled in landscape painting, drawing inspiration from Dong Yuan and Juran. His brushwork was refined, fresh, and elegant, and he was also highly accomplished in ink bamboo painting. He is regarded as one of the “Ten Talents of the Early Ming Dynasty.” Surviving works include Shushan Tu (Mount Shu Landscape), while Autumn Grove and Thatched Pavilion is now preserved in the Shanghai Museum. As a calligrapher, Xu Ben was equally accomplished. His small regular script combined the traditions of Zhong Yao and Yu Shinan, characterized by refinement, precision, and dignified restraint. His cursive script, vigorous and dynamic, absorbed influences from Zhang Xu and Huaisu, achieving a style marked by fluid energy, bold movement, and expressive vitality.