(b Chang'an [now Xi'an, Shaanxi Province]; fl c. AD 742-83). Chinese painter. He was celebrated for his paintings of figures, goblins and spirits and, especially, for his depictions of saddled horses. He came from a poor family but as a young man was patronized by the great poet Wang Wei, who sponsored his painting studies under Cao Ba ( fl 713-42), the pre-eminent horse painter of the day. Han Gan's achievement and influence eventually outstripped those of Cao.
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