Han Gan (flourished 8th century) was a Chinese painter of the Tang dynasty, who, though recorded as having done wall paintings on Buddhist and Daoist themes, is best remembered for his paintings of horses.

A leading horse painter of the Tang dynasty, Han Gan was known for capturing not only the likeness of a horse but also its spirit. This painting, the most famous work attributed to the artist, is a portrait of a charger of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–56).

Han Gan’s most famous painting, Night-Shining White, is one of his few remain-ing paintings, and is the ultimate example of Tang horse painting. A tra-dition of speaking indirectly through horse imagery persists today in con-temporary Chinese art. Man Herding Horses by Han Gan.

A leading court painter named Han Gan who specialized in horses is believed to have painted this portrait of “Night-Shining White,” the favored steed of the Tang dynasty (618–907 C.E.) emperor Xuanzong.

Han Gan, a leading horse painter of the Tang dynasty (618–907), was known for portraying not only the physical likeness of a horse but also its spirit. This painting, the most famous work attributed to the artist, is a portrait of Night-Shining White, a favorite charger of the emperor Xuanzong (712–756).

Han Gan (Chinese: 韩干/韓幹) (c. 706-783) was a Tang Dynasty painter. He came from a poor family in either Chang'an, modern-day Xi'an, Shaanxi; Lantian, modern-day Shaanxi; or Daliang, modern-day Kaifeng, Henan.

画迹主要有《姚崇像》《安禄山像》《玄宗试马图》《宁王调马打球图》《龙朔功臣图》，均录于《历代名画记》《内厩御马图》《圉人调马图》《文皇龙马图》等52件，辑于《宣和画谱》。 传世作品有《牧马图》，录于《故宫名画三百种》。 韩干重视写生，坚持以真马为师，遍绘宫中及诸王府之名马，曾作《玉花骢图》《照夜白图》、《洗马图》《凿马图》《战马图》《六马图》 …

2015年2月2日 · Han Gan (韓幹, ca. 715–781) was a Tang dynasty painter, who, though recorded as having done wall paintings on Buddhist and Daoist themes, is best remembered for his paintings of horses. Han Gan emphasized the strength and nobility of the horses of the Tang Empire by using a tautly controlled line and compositions of great clarity.

Renowned for his horse paintings, Han Gan was a famous painter of the Tang dynasty in China. This famous traditional Chinese ink painting, currently in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a portrait of Tang emperor Xuanzong’s favorite horse, Night-Shining White.

This painting depicts a Tartar servant riding a white horse while leading a fine, black steed. On the painting, there is an inscription by Emperor Huizong (1082-1135) of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) which reads, "An authentic work by Han Gan. Written by the emperor in the dinghai year."