Art historians have for long held the idea that the court art during Huizong's reign has two basiccomponents, the emperor and the painting academy. However, on the basis of textual sources, Itried to demonstrate the important role Daoist painters like Li Derou played in the court art. Liwas a scholar Daoist priest and took no position in the painting academy. Nevertheless, withextraordinary skill ofportfaiture and Daoist painting, Li exerted a considerable impact onHuizong's own practice and the masterpieces like Listening to the Zuher, which is believed to beexecuted within the palace. Thanks to the Xuanhe Painting Catalogue, we also know that Li washighly recognized by Huizong due to his excellent performance in religious painting. In.short, LiDerou's achievement in Huizong's court reveals to us a crucial aspect of the court art at the lime,and throws light to Hruzong's Daoist disposition on painting and collection. I hope this paperwill attract more academic attention to these Daoist painters in Huizong's court.
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