Zhao Zhiqian

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhao.

File:Flowers (Zhao Zhiqian) - 1.jpg

A leaf from Zhao Zhiqian's album, Flowers, completed in 1859.

Zhao Zhiqian (Chinese: 赵之谦; 1829–1884) was a renowned Chinese calligrapher, seal carver and painter in the late Qing Dynasty, "the leading scholar-artist of his day." Zhao's seal carving had profound influence on the later masters, such as Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi. He is also known under the courtesy name of Yifu (益甫) and his pseudonym (hào) of Lengjun (冷君), which he changed to Huishu (撝叔) and Bei'an (悲盦) respectively later in his life.

Biography

File:Flowers (Zhao Zhiqian) - 6.jpg

Hemerocallis, from the same album, 1859

Zhao was born in 1829 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. He became a Xiucai at the age of 20, and obtained the title Juren in 1859 in Zhejiang provincial exam. With the outbreak of Taiping Rebellion in the following year, his political ambition was hindered. During the rebellion, his family shattered, and a number of his art works as well as his collections were lost. Later, he went to Beijing for the national exams. After repeated failures, he gave up his dream of becoming a government official. He submitted a request to become an alternative governor of a county in Jiangxi Province. He was remarried at 46, and had offspring.

Zhao died in 1884 at the age of 56.