Yun Shouping (1633 - 1690), along with the ‘Four Wangs’ and Wu Li, is one of the ‘Six Masters of the early Qing period’. His bird-and-flower paintings initiated a new trend during his generation. He was hailed as the best of the ‘Six Scholars of Piling’ and recognised as a pioneer of the ‘orthodox school of realism’ (xieshang zhengpai) that gained him great acclaim during the early years of Emperor Qianlong’s reign. His flowers were rendered in clear, gorgeous and refined colours, displaying a vivid and lifelike quality. The artist innovated ‘boneless’ flower painting techniques and he became an artistic master during his generation. The exhibition, Yun Shouping - Paintings and Calligraphy from the Palace Museum and the Shanghai Museum, showcases over 180 artworks including the painter’s oeuvre at various creative stages, his family’s artistic heritage, works by his disciples – such as Ma Yuanyu, Fan Tingzhen and Zhang Wei – and remarkable pieces by fellow artists like Wang Hui, Wang Shimin and Zha Shibiao. The hardcover catalogue, Yun Shouping: Paintings and Calligraphy from the Palace Museum and the Shanghai Museum, features images of all the artworks in the exhibition, along with detailed information about each piece. The catalogue also includes theses authored by experts from the Palace Museum and the Shanghai Museum. It is divided into three sections: ‘Masterpieces – Craftsmanship Beyond Nature’, ‘Disciples and Successors’ and ‘Fellow Artists’.