Seven Character Poem in Running Script《行书七言诗轴》

Liu Yong (1719–1803)
Liu Yong, courtesy name Chongru, with the pseudonym Shian, was the son of Liu Tongxun from Zhucheng, Shandong. He achieved the jinshi degree in 1751 and served as a Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet. Liu Yong was a prominent calligrapher of the Qing dynasty, renowned for his “model calligraphy.” He was celebrated alongside Prince Cheng Yongxing, Weng Fanggang, Liang Tongshu, Wang Wenzhi, and Tiebao. Due to his preference for heavy ink, he was known as the “Prime Minister of Heavy Ink.”

“Seven Character Poem in Running Script”
Initially influenced by Zhao Mengfu and Dong Qichang, Liu Yong admired Su Shi’s brushwork. He dedicated himself to studying the “Ge Tie” and excelled in regular, running, large-scale, and small regular scripts. Favoring brushes with firm and soft bristles, his calligraphy is full and robust, exuding confidence. Throughout his life, Liu Yong’s calligraphy style evolved, with rounded and delicate strokes in his youth, powerful brushwork in middle age, and a more subdued and refined style in later years, displaying the subtlety of strength concealed within softness. This piece, characterized by its ancient, robust brushstrokes, embodies fullness and inner strength, standing out as an exemplary work from his later years.

刘墉（1719~1803），字崇如，号石庵，山东诸城人。文正公（统勳）子。乾隆辛末进士，官至体仁阁大学士。刘墉的书法造诣深厚，是清代著名的帖学大家，与翁方纲、梁同书、王文治齐名，称为乾隆四大家，由于他喜用浓墨，故被世人称为“浓墨宰相”。
刘墉书法初从赵孟頫、董其昌入手，又喜好苏轼的笔意，曾潜心研习《阁帖》，擅长楷书、行书，同时也能写榜书和小楷。他喜用硬笔短毫，书法丰腴淳厚、落落大度，体现了他一生的襟度。刘墉一生书法曾经数度变化，年轻时珠圆玉润，中年笔力雄健，到晚年则趋于平淡，有绵里藏针的妙处。此书筆意古厚，貌丰骨劲，味厚神藏，超然独出，是其中晚年时期的精品。