Influence

Qiu Ying's daughter and son-in-law, Qiu Zhu and You Qiu, were both family members and followers of his style. Wang Zhideng (1535-1612) in his "Account of Ladies" in Record of Painting in Wu Commandery (Wujun danqing zhi) mentioned that Qiu Zhu "was capable at figure painting and followed in a style similar to her father's." Jiang Shaoshu's A History of Silent Poetry (Wusheng shi shi) from the late Ming and early Qing period also wrote that "in Wu Commandery (Suzhou) Qiu Shizhou (Ying) became famous for figures, and Ziqiu (You Qiu) followed him. His paintings of Buddhist and Daoist figures as well as ladies were all marvelous. Excelling at ink line painting, they have the skillful quality of the Academic style."

In addition to immediate followers, such as Qiu Zhu and You Qiu, Qiu Ying had an enormous influence on professional painting circles at the time. In the Ming dynasty, Wen Jia (1501-1583) in his Record of Painting and Calligraphy at the Qianshan Hall (Qianshan tang shuhua ji) discussed a "Peach Blossom Spring" painting by Zhao Bosu (1124-1182) of the Song dynasty as follows; "Few of his (Zhao's) paintings survive today. This painting was formerly in the collection of Mr. Wu in Yixing, who invited Qiu Shifu (Ying) to make a copy of it, which was identical to the original. His family paid fifty gold, and many versions then began to circulate among the people, but none could compare to Qiu's work in terms of refinement." Wen mentioned that "many versions then began to circulate among the people," providing direct evidence for the flourishing art market in his time. With professional painters making numerous copies of works among themselves, many workshop productions came to circulate with Qiu Ying's name added to them, even in Qiu's own day.

Inspired by a Tang Poet

Qiu Zhu (fl. 16^th c.), Ming dynasty
Hanging scroll, ink and colors on paper, 103 x 60.6 cm

Qiu Zhu, the daughter of Qiu Ying, was a native of Taicang in Jiangsu with the sobriquet Duling neishi. Like her father, Qiu Zhu excelled at painting, especially figures, using a refined and elegantly beautiful style. With extraordinary brushwork, her works do not have a trace of commonality.

This painting depicts an exotic tree enveloped by cloud bands with clusters of peonies here and there. A lady in light makeup with colorful robes stands gracefully alone by the tree and flowers. Although signed as "Playfully painted by Qiu of Wumen (Suzhou)," the forms in this work are all meticulously rendered and the coloring equally refined. Wang Zhideng (1535-1612) in his Record of Painting in Wu Commandery (Wujun danqing zhi) praised Qiu Ying's painting style by comparing it to "hairs of emerald jade and threads of gold. Whether he used strands of color or filaments in monochrome, they all have a delicate beauty comparable to that of the ancients." Qiu Zhu followed in her father's style, and such accolades for Qiu Ying's works could equally apply to her own as well.

Viewing the Pass List

Attributed to Qiu Ying (ca. 1494-1552), Ming dynasty
Handscroll, ink and colors on silk, 34.4 x 638 cm

This painting is traditionally attributed to Qiu Ying but, compared to the unsurpassed precision and beauty of the fine-line style for which he is known, somewhat lacking. It suggests a work by a late-Ming painter with Qiu Ying's name added.

The Ming civil service exams were divided into three levels. The first was the prefectural one with successful candidates known as Government Students, or "Cultivated Talents." Provincial Examinations were next, with those who passed known as Provincial Graduates, the top examinee with "Highest Honors." The last examinations were at the metropolitan level. All Provincial Graduates could sit for this exam, with successful candidates called "Nominees for Office" and the top one known as the "Principal Graduate." Nominees for Office had an interview with the emperor and the top candidate passing the Palace Examination was called the "First Graduate," the second-place one the "Second Graduate," and the third-place one the "Third Graduate." In this handscroll, a sea of people crowds around the posted exam results. Those successful excitedly mount horses and leave triumphantly, while those not appear dejected, lean on friends, and glumly head home. Though not by Qiu Ying, the numerous details still make for a lively work.