Fachang Muqi

Fachang Muqi was an artist active during the mid-13th century, documented within the period of 1225 to 1250. The artist is known for paintings that focus primarily on the depiction of natural subjects, including significant works featuring animals, birds, and botanical elements.

Five works attributed to Fachang Muqi are represented in permanent museum collections, establishing the artist’s importance in the history of painting. These documented works reveal a consistent thematic focus, emphasizing iconic imagery of both strength and subtlety. The subjects include the natural compositions Swallow and Lotus and Willow and Magpie, alongside powerful singular or paired animal studies such as Dragon, Tiger, and the composite work Dragon; Tiger.

The preservation of these Fachang Muqi paintings in the Cleveland Museum of Art confirms the artist’s legacy in international institutions. Today, the compositions, which maintain their museum-quality detail, are often digitized and available for scholarly study. High-quality prints of the works are widely circulated, sometimes available as downloadable artwork derived from public domain sources.