Special 166 Chiu Ying’s Landscape Painting Postage Stamps & Souvenir Sheet

　　 This set depicts a landscape painting by Chiu Ying, an artist of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The painting is 133.4 × 155.4 cm. in size, with color and ink on silk, and was recommended by the National Palace Museum, Taipei. The four 5.00 stamps of this set are arranged in a se`tenant block, which features the whole painting. The souvenir sheet (102 × 146 mm.)consists of the said four stamps, also in a block.

　　 Chiu Ying (15th to 16th century) was a native of T'ai-ts'ang in Kiangsu province, but later moved to Soochow. His style name was Shih-fu, and his nickname Shih-chow. Details about his early life are not clearly known to us. His genius was first recognized by Chou Ch'en, a contemporary artist, from whom he had received his first lessons in art. His talents were many-sided. He was famed for his delicated brushwork, but was also capable of producing fine landscapes and figures using bold strokes in a free style. There were certain types of painting with which Chiu Ying was thoroughly conversant, the technique of which was even beyond the reach of his most prominent contemporaries.