Chen Junshou (1598-1652) lived in the late period of the Ming dynasty. Naturally gifted, he was extremely stubborn in learning and made rapid progress. His teachers were renowned scholars Liu Sunjo and Huang Dojo. Tell that wished to have before my eyes the works of famous portrait painter severodonsk Whether Gunline, young Chen Hounsou made the crossing over the river Zertanzten (Hangzhou) and personally removed the prints from the portrait gallery 27 statesmen and scientists, the author of which was, Gunline, and then subjected the prints to a thorough study, learning techniques portraitiste. In the years of rule by the motto, Tanzi and Chungjang (50 years of the 17th century) Chen Hounsou fell twice to visit the capital city Beijing. During his second visit he was appointed a cadet at the State Academy of Sciences "Guozijian", thus obtaining access to the academic collection of paintings. Classes reproducing portraits painted by famous artists contributed not a little to increase his skill. His name began to put on a par with the Beijing artist Cui Tszychenom. On them and said: "Chen in South and Cui in North".
The events of 1644, when the Manchu troops broke through the defenses on the Outpost of the great wall, began to conquer one after another Chinese city, rocked Chen Junshou. When news of this reached him, he burst into bitter tears, and tried to find solace in wine. One of the teachers of the Chen - Liu Sunjo immediately went on hunger strike and died soon after from exhaustion, the other coach Juan Dojo himself stood at the head of the army of patriots, but in one of the battles was taken by the Manchus captured. In a state of deep despair Chen Junshou retired to the mountains, became a monk (monastery uniman near Sasina). But he soon returned to secular life and made a living selling his paintings. He died when he was only 55 years old.
Chen Junshou wrote on different topics: flowers, birds, landscapes, but primarily he is known as a great portraitist. The characters of his paintings, as a rule, exceptional men, strong-willed, harsh. Often the author resorted to the technique of hyperbole. In General, the obvious was his desire to rise above the mortal world.
