Medieval Chinese Painting “Nomads” and the Problem of its Attribution

The objective of this article is to check the reliability attribution medieval Chinese painting “Fanqi tu” (“Nomads”) Hu Huan (Hu Huai), an artist living at end 9 th – beginning 10 century. In order achieve objective, two tasks must be undertaken: 1) compare with other paintings by Huan, and 2) widen range comparisons including renwu genre artists close Huan’s paintings. Some compared pictures do have reliable chronological attributions that help determine dates others, tu”. This study used hair-styles saddle-horses’ tails as ethno-chronological marker which has never been before anyone in way. analysis showed neither tu”, nor “Zhuosetu” (another picture attributed Huan) can among his works. They were painted much later. scroll reflects contacts Qidan (Khidan) Jurchen peoples belongs 1110–1140 AD. As personages depicted, picked out lacing their saddle-horses middle. (Jin) Southern Song same: a tight knot hanging locks. Therefore, was sign, not ethno-cultural one. It would seem long loose flowing primarily Mongolian-time saddle-horses. dated middle second half 13 century (from collapse Jin Empire 1234 flourishing Zhao Mengfu’s paintings).