Lot 57
57
YANG JISHENG (1516-1555)

Details
YANG JISHENG (1516-1555)
Running Script Calligraphy (xing shu)
Handscroll, ink on paper, 11½ x 48¾in. (29 x 124cm.)
The text consists of three poems written by the artist when he was in jail

Signed: Jiaoshan

Dated an autumn month of the thirty-fourth year of the Jiajing era (1555)

Seven seals of the artist: Mo Guai; Jiao Shan; and other unidentified seals

Nineteen colophons, including ones by Huang Jie (1873-1935), Wang Zhaoming, Ye Gongchuo, and Wang Zhaoyong (all early 20th Century)

Frontispiece by Cai Yuanpei (1868-1940)

Lable by Huang Jie

Lot Essay

Yang Jisheng (1516-1555) Art names: Zhongfang; Jiaoshen From Rongcheng, Hebei province After passing his jinshi examination in 1547, Yang rose to a high level in the Ming government. Because of his up-right character, he openly criticized the notorious, but powerful prime-minister, Yan Song (1481-1568). Yan was so angry that he had Yang Jisheng imprisoned. Tragically, in 1555, Yang died in prison. Yang was a noted painter and calligrapher. All of his works are marked by their vigorous brushwork which hints at Yang's strong personality.