Wen Zhengming (文徵明 1470-1559) was a distinguished calligrapher, painter, poet, and writer during the Ming dynasty.

Born into a scholar family in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, his father Wen Lin was a high ranking official and passed the highest imperial administrative examination. Although young Wen Zhengming didn’t appear intelligent at first, his father provided him the best education available. From a young age, he studied the Classics and calligraphy under the guidance of well-known local scholars and learned painting from Shen Zhou.

Unlike his father, however, Wen Zhengming faced repeated failures in his attempts to pass the civil service exams. It wasn't until the age of 54, when he was recommended by the governor of Jiangsu to attend the Imperial College in the capital, that he finally succeeded. He later served as a low-ranking secretarial offical. After 4 years, disillusioned by the corruption in the court, he left the post and returned to his hometown.  He devoted the rest of his life to literature, calligraphy, and painting. Quiet and calm by nature and very diligent in his study, he was well respected in the artistic circle and befriended many notable poets, calligraphers, and painters of his time. He passed away at the age of ninety.

Wen Zhengming excelled in all painting genres, with a particular expertise in landscape painting. His brushstroke ranged from delicate and fine brushstrokes to spontaneous and unrestrained broad ones. His works were noted for well-balanced composition, meticulous brushwork, and elegant colours. Alongside his teacher Shen Zhou, they established the Wu School, and after Shen Zhou's passing, Wen Zhengming assumed the role of group leader. He is regarded as one of the Four Great Artists of Wu (the ancient name of Suzhou) and enjoyed an equally high reputation for his achievements in literature.