南宋 李唐 晋文公复国图绢本

李唐创作的绢本设色历史题材画作，具有极高的艺术价值。该画作纵 29.5 厘米、横 827 厘米，为绢本设色长卷，现收藏于美国大都会艺术博物馆。卷中附有传为宋高宗赵构手书的《左传》文句，流传中还曾入清内府，后流转至美国。画作以连环绘图形式分为六段，取材于《左传》中晋文公重耳流亡复国的史实，依次展现了重耳访宋受礼、郑国无礼待之、楚成王礼遇重耳、秦穆公赠女联姻、子犯献璧表忠心、重耳归晋朝于武宫这六个关键场景。每段均搭配树石、车马、房屋等配景，重耳的形象多次出现，串联起完整的复国叙事。作品尽显南宋院体画风的精细严谨，以铁线描勾勒人物轮廓，山石皴法融合斧劈皴与卷云皴技法。人物刻画细致入微，晋文公的雍容庄重、侍臣的恭敬等神态各异；线条虚实轻重富于变化，构图疏密有致，人物服饰也尽力还原春秋风貌，整体极具写实感与感染力。
李唐创作此画时，宋高宗赵构的流亡经历与重耳相似。画家借重耳流亡十九年最终复国称霸的故事，寄托了激励南宋君臣忍辱负重、收复中原的期望，不过这一隐喻并未唤醒偏安江南的赵构，使作品多了一层深沉的现实感慨。
Basic Information：This painting, a colored scroll on silk, measures 29.5 centimeters in height and 827 centimeters in length, and is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States. Once misattributed to another artist, it was later authenticated as a work by Li Tang. The scroll is accompanied by inscriptions supposedly written by Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, excerpted from Zuo Zhuan. It was once collected by the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty before being circulated to the United States.
Content and Structure：Divided into six sequential sections in a comic - strip - like narrative style, the painting is based on historical records from Zuo Zhuan about Duke Wen of Jin's exile and subsequent restoration of his state. The six key scenes respectively depict Chong'er being received with courtesy and gifts in the State of Song, being treated disrespectfully in the State of Zheng, being honored by King Cheng of Chu, receiving royal maidens as a marriage alliance from Duke Mu of Qin, his minister Zifan presenting a jade pendant to pledge loyalty, and Chong'er returning to Jin to pay homage at the Wu Palace after ascending the throne. Chong'er's figure appears repeatedly throughout the scroll, connected by supporting elements such as trees, rocks, carriages and houses to form a coherent story of national restoration.
Artistic Features：The work fully embodies the exquisite and rigorous style of the Southern Song Imperial Academy of Painting. It uses the iron - wire line drawing technique to outline the figures, and integrates the axe - chop texture stroke and curly cloud texture stroke for depicting mountains and rocks. The characters are portrayed with intricate details—Duke Wen's dignity, the attendants' reverence, and other expressions are vividly displayed. The lines vary in density and weight, with a well - balanced composition. The costumes of the characters are designed to restore the styles of the Spring and Autumn Period as much as possible, endowing the whole painting with a strong sense of realism and appeal.
Creation Connotation：When Li Tang created this painting, Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty had an exile experience similar to that of Chong'er. By depicting the story of Chong'er, who finally restored his state and became a hegemon after 19 years of exile, the painter intended to inspire the monarchs and officials of the Southern Song Dynasty to endure hardships and recover the Central Plains. Regrettably, this metaphor failed to arouse Emperor Gaozong, who chose to cling to a cozy corner in the south rather than strive for national reunification, adding a profound sense of regret to the work.