Elegant demeanor

Gu Kaizhi, who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries, is recognized as a consummate figure in art and literature, setting high standards for narrative painting and the depiction of figures, which influenced artists of later generations. His hand scroll The Nymph of the Luo River illustrates Luoshenfu, a 3rd-century prose poem composed by the poet Cao Zhi. The work is considered an iconic piece in art history and has inspired replicas.

One rare copy made by an anonymous painter of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) is in the Liaoning Provincial Museum's collection in Shenyang, Liaoning province. It is now on display at Fengshen Youyi ("Attractive and Graceful"), an exhibition of ancient figure paintings at the museum running until March 23.

The exhibition displays a rich collection of the classic paintings that the Liaoning museum has built over decades, tracing the evolution of figure painting throughout centuries, during which dozens of multifaceted artists contributed to the genre with their innovative brushwork. When they outlined a graceful silhouette and rendered an appealing demeanor to the characters, the painters also conveyed thoughts about morality, ideals and beliefs.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 157 Zhihui Sanjie, Hunnan district, Shenyang, Liaoning province. 024-2274-1193.