薛稷（649～713），中国唐代画家，书法家。字嗣通，蒲州汾阴（今山西万荣）人。曾任黄门侍郎、参知机务、太子少保、礼部尚书，后被赐死狱中。工书法，师承褚遂良，与虞世南、欧阳询、褚遂良并列初唐四大书法家。善绘画，长于人物、佛像、树石、花鸟，尤精于画鹤，能准确生动地表现出鹤的形貌神情。无作品传世。
薛稷曾祖即隋代著名文学家薛道衡，官至内史侍郎。祖父薛收，仕唐为记室参军，封汾阴县男。从父薛元超，唐中书令兼左庶子，加金紫光禄大夫。薛稷出身官宦世家，本人亦仕途显达，武则天朝举进士，累迁礼部郎中、中书舍人。唐中宗景龙末年(709年)，任谏义大夫、昭文馆学士。其时唐睿宗李旦尚未登基，与薛稷关系很好，将女儿仙源公主嫁给了薛稷之子薛伯阳，二人结成儿女亲家，过从甚密。景云元年(710年)，李旦甫登帝位，即刻升迁薛稷为太常少卿，以后累迁中书侍郎，转工部、礼部尚书，复以翊赞之功，封晋国公，赐实封三百户，加赠太子少保。唐睿宗还经常召薛稷入宫参赞政事，一时恩遇，群臣莫与为比。可惜好景不长，唐玄宗即位后，因太平公主与窦怀贞等人密谋政变，事泄被杀。薛稷以知情不报，亦被赐死，享年65岁。
薛稷为人好古博雅，辞章甚美。政事之余，专力于书画艺术。当时虞世南、褚遂良二人书法妙绝，海内翕然宗法。薛稷外祖魏徵为初唐名臣，家富收藏，其中虞、褚墨迹颇多，薛稷得以日久观摩，进而“锐意模学，穷年忘倦”，最终学成，名动天下。窦泉《述书赋》中说：“(陆)柬之效虞．疏薄不逮；(薛)少保学褚，菁华却倍。”给了他很高的评价。此外，薛稷还曾向精于草隶的舅父魏叔瑜学习草书，世称“前有虞、褚，后有薛、魏”。后世于是把薛稷与欧阳询、虞世南、褚遂良并列，称之日“初唐四大书家”。薛稷的隶书、行书俱入能品，“章草书亦其亚也”。其书法特色是“结体遒丽”，“媚好肤肉”，被人形容为“风惊苑花，雪惹山柏”，充满了诗情画意。因为薛稷的书法能够很好地继承褚遂良的笔法和风格，“可谓河南公(褚遂良)之高足，甚为时所珍尚。”所以，当时就有“买褚得薛，不失其节”的说法。唐代李嗣真在《九品书人论》中更将薛稷的真书、行书列为第一。在学习继承褚遂良书法风格的同时，薛稷又有所发展创造，由此形成了他个人融隶入楷，媚丽而不失气势，劲瘦中兼顾圆润的书风，发展了初唐书法劲瘦媚丽而又圆腴挺拔的时代风格，并给后世以影响，赢得人们由衷的赞美。史载薛稷曾经为普赞寺题额，三个大字，各方径三尺，笔画雄健，结构劲挺。唐代大诗人杜甫写诗赞道：“仰看垂露姿，不崩亦不骞。郁郁三大字，蛟龙岌相缠。”他的书法作品还有《中岳碑》、《洛阳令郑敞碑》、《信行禅师兴教碑》、《升仙太子碑》、《佛石迹图传》等，其中颇不乏历代公认的书法精品。
薛稷行、楷书，始见称于开元中叶张怀瓘所撰之《书断》，并入能品，且立传称：“书学褚公，尤尚绮丽媚好，肤肉得师之半，可谓河南公之高足，甚为时所珍尚。”杜甫曾见其普赞寺题额三大字，笔势雄健，有《观薛少保书画壁》诗赞云：“仰看垂露姿，不崩亦不骞。郁郁三大字，蛟龙岌相缠。”董逌《广川书跋》承息唐人，视作褚氏嫡嗣，其卷七有评曰：“薛稷于书，得欧、虞、褚、陆(陆柬之)遗墨至备，故于法可据。然其师承血脉，则于褚为近。至于用笔纤瘦，结字疏通，又自别为一家。”“用笔纤瘦”，出于刻意，乃一时代作风，不特薛稷如是，他的堂兄弟薛曜则更少丰润。稷之书法出自褚氏，虽时有新奇能别成风神，然终因“超石鼠之效能，愧隋珠之掩类”，未能尽脱褚氏规模而独张一军。名列“初唐四家”，实见逊色，其所以附骥欧、虞、褚者，斯盖论书者为求得偶数矣!存世的《信行禅师碑》，越王贞撰，神龙二年(706)立在长安，是其代表作。
薛稷又具备很高的文字才能，“文章学术，名冠时流。”诗歌写得很好，《全唐诗》中共收录其作品14篇。
在艺术领域中，薛稷一生中取得最高成就的是绘画。套用古人的句式，大约可以说他是“诗不如书，书不如画”吧。薛稷的绘画擅长花鸟、人物及杂画，而尤以画鹤最为精妙。鹤之作为绘画题材，可以上溯到西汉时期，但画迹寥寥，还谈不上什么成熟的技法。直到唐代花鸟画开始成为绘画的专题之一，随之出现了全力从事花鸟画创作的画家，薛稷就是其中较早而专以画鹤知名的一位，开创了一代花鸟画之先河。这与当时的社会环境很有关系；上古时代，鹤已进入文学作品，现存的青铜器上，亦可见到鹤的形象。春秋战国肘期，出现了驯养鹤的记载，卫懿公因养鹤而身死国灭，是著名的历史故事。唐代文人更是养鹤玩鹤，蔚然成风，鹤在他们的生括中占据了一定地位。反映到文学创作上，出现了一批以鹤为题材的诗歌。当文字表述有所欠缺．使他们感到不满时，则必然要求助于形象的艺术再现。于是，鹤画在绘画领域中也就顺理成章。迅速广泛地发展起来。然而，诚如《宣和画谱》所言，“世之画鹤者多矣。其飞鸣饮啄之态度，宜得之为详。然画鹤少有精者，凡顶之浅深，氅之黧淡，喙之长短，胫之细大，膝之高下，未尝见有一一能写生者也。又至于别其雄雌，辨其南北，尤其所难。虽名乎号为善画，而画鹤以托爪傅地，亦其失也。故(薛)稷之于此，颇极其妙，宜得名于古今焉。”“故言鹤必称稷，以是得名。”这里提到一般的画家连鹤的表面特征都不能准确地把握，遑论描绘出鹤的精神气质了。独有薛稷所画的鹤，能够极尽其妙，或啄苔剔羽，或阔步顾视，或昂立座隅，或上下回翔，无不栩栩如生，曲尽情状，形神兼具。当时人甚至把薛稷画鹤、秘书省内落星石(疑即陨石)、贺知章草书、郎余令画凤并称为“四绝”。唐代两位大诗人社甫、李白都曾为薛稷画鹤题诗作赞，由此，可以反映出薛稷功力的不凡。
所画之鹤形神兼具．达到了呼之欲出的地步。故李杜二人一说“画色久欲尽，苍然犹出尘”一说“鹤感至精以神变，可弄影而浮烟”。似乎壁上的鹤，只要注入生命，马上就会破壁飞去，令人不禁联想到“画龙点睛”的传说。而李杜二人更为之激赏不止的，乃是薛稷笔下所表现出来的鹤的那种超脱逸达、而又傲骨十足的气质。即所谓“赤霄有真骨，耻饮洿池津，冥冥任所往，脱略谁能驯”以及“昂昂伫眙，霍若惊矫，形留座隅，势出天表”的清高标格。这在某种意义上也可以说是封建文人隐士的象征，而与一般人之取意鹤的吉祥富贵，有着完全不同的两种文化内涵。宋代大画家米芾也将着眼点放在这里，他在《题薛稷二鹤》诗中说，“从容雅步在庭除，浩荡闲心存万里。”又说；“余平生嗜此老(指薛稷)矣，此外无足为者。”表达了他与薛稷之间隔越时代的强烈共鸣。
绘画成就，薛稷画鹤成就很高，影响也很深远。《历代名画记》载：“屏风六扇鹤样，自(薛)稷始也。”“样”，即画图的范本，薛稷能够创“样”并为社会所接受，说明了他在画史上的重要地位。以后．“六鹤图“成为一种定格．五代时黄荃曾绘六鹤于偏殿壁上，此殿遂改称“六鹤殿”，直至一千余年后，清代宫廷中还绘有六鹤屏风。历来学薛稷画鹤的人很多，著名的如唐代蒯廉，能“深得其妙”。石代花乌画家黄荃，“鹤师薛稷”，并且后来居上，有出蓝之誉。
鹤画作品，计有《啄苔鹤图》、《顾步鹤图》各一幅，《瑞鹤图》(一作《鹤图》)五幅，及《二鹤图》、《戏鹤图》等，这些都是卷轴画，另有鹤画壁画多处；如唐秘书省、尚书省考工员外郎厅、洛阳尚书坊岐王宅、成都府衙院两厅、通泉县署等，也都是吐所公认的杰作。
画鹤之外，薛稷的人物画和杂画也达到了很高的造诣。前人赞誉他画踪如阎立本。李白曾持意请他为新安郡(治今安徽歙县)西安寺画西方佛壁画一铺，笔力潇洒，风姿连秀。被《唐朝名画录》列为神品，认为可与曹不兴、张僧繇相匹敌。薛稷又绘有西方净土变壁画一铺，杜甫写诗赞道：“又挥西方变，发地扶屋椽。惨淡壁飞动，到今色未填。”可知此画不曾填涂颜色，属于所谓“白画”，但是仍然神采飞动，具有感人的艺术力量。并且，这种白画正是后代由李公麟所创始的“白描人物”的先驱，由此也可以看出薛稷非凡的造型和线描能力。此外，成都静德精舍有薛稷人物乌兽壁画二铺，“态状生动，乃一时之尤者也。工部尚书厅有其树石壁画，成都府衙院有其青牛壁画等，也都“并居神品”。

Xue Ji (649 ～ 713) , painter of Chinese Tang Dynasty, calligrapher. Word heir is connected, shade of Pu Zhou Fen (today Shanxi 10 thousand flourish) person. Man of serve of Ceng Ren yellow door, ginseng knows machine Wu, prince to be protected less, a high official in ancient China of the Ministry of Rites in feudal China, be granted to die after in jail. Labour calligraphy, master bear Zhu Suiliang, stand side by side with Yu Shina, Ou Yangxun, Zhu Suiliang first Tang Si big calligrapher. Be apt to is painterly, long at stone of character, figure of Buddha, tree, painting of flowers and birds in traditional Chinese style, blame essence of life at drawing a crane, can accurate vivid the earth's surface reveals the form appearance expression of the crane. Without work be handed down from ancient times.
Xue millet great-grandfather namely Suidai is famous writer Xue Daoheng, the official comes inside history serve man. Grandfather Xue closes, tang Wei of be an official is written down room join the army, county of the shade that seal Fen male. From father Xue Yuanchao, tang Zhongshu makes hold left bastard concurrently, add doctor of Jin Ziguang salary. Old and well-known family of official of Xue millet one's previous experience, illustrious and influential of him Yi Shitu, day of fierce criterion day lifts a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations, doctor of tired change the Ministry of Rites in feudal China, medium the book abandons a person. Last years of a dynasty or reign of dragon of Tang Zhongzong scene (709 years of) , hold the post of bachelor of house of article of doctor of expostulate with justice, clear. Zong Lidan of meantime Tang Rui have not ascend the throng, as very good as Xue millet relation, married princess of source of daughter celestial being of Xue Ji child Xue Baiyang, 2 people form children relatives by marriage, associate is very close. Scene cloud the first year of an era or the reign of an emperor (710 years of) , li Danfu ascends purple, millet of immediateness preferment Xue is too Chang Shaoqing, later man of serve of the book in tired change, turn a high official in ancient China of the Ministry of Works in feudal China, the Ministry of Rites in feudal China, answer with assist the result of assist, seal Jin Guogong, grant solid inside back cover 100, add give prince to be protected less. Tang Rui an administrative unit in Xizang is returned often millet of call together Xue enters palace counsellor government affairs, temporarily favour encounter, group official not with to compare. Regrettablly good times don't last long, after accession of Tang Xuan an administrative unit in Xizang, wait for a person because of princess of peace and tranquility and Dou Huaizhen put-up coup,
Xue Ji is person good Gu Boya, poetry and prose is very beautiful. Of government affairs, only force at art of painting and calligraphy. Yu Shina, a surname satisfies fine at that time 2 people calligraphy is clever absolutely, within the country amiables and compliant like that patriarchal clan system. The Zu Weizheng outside Xue Ji is first Tang Mingchen, the home is rich collect, among them ink marks of anxiety, a surname is quite much, xue Ji be able to view and emulate of with the passing of time, then " acute meaning model learns, poor year forget tired " , learn finally, the name changes the world. Dou Quan " the ode that narrate a book " in say: "(land) the effect of card suppositions. Scanty thin do not reachcapture; (Xue) protect less learn a surname, essence however times. " gave him very high opinion. In addition, xue Ji returns Ceng Xiangjing to learn at the uncle Wei Shuyu of careless be subordinate to cursive, the life says " before have anxiety, a surname, there is Xue, the Kingdom of Wei after " . Later ages stands side by side Xue Ji with Ou Yangxun, Yu Shina, Zhu Suiliang then, the day that say " first home of Tang Si big book " . All of Xue Ji's official script, running hand is entered can taste, "Yi Jiya of Zhang Cao book also " . Its calligraphy characteristic is " knot Ti Qiuli " , "Flesh of fawn on good skin " , be described to be " wind Jing garden is beautiful, snow offends Shan Bai " , was full of poetics picture meaning. Because Xue Ji's calligraphy can accede well,a surname satisfies the standard of zephyr of calligraphy or drawing of fine, "Henan of it may be said is fair (Zhu Suiliang) your pupil, precious of the place when terribly still. " so, have at that time " buy a surname to get Xue, do not lose its part " view. Heir of Tang Dynasty plum is in really " the 9 people that taste a book are talked " in more label Xue Ji's regular script, running hand the first. In study successive a surname satisfies fine calligraphy style while, xue Ji develops innovation somewhat again, formed be subordinate to of his individual be in harmony to enter from this model, fawn on beautiful and do not lose momentum, interest is thin in the book wind with fruity give attention to two or morethings, developed first thin fawn on of Tang Shufa interest beautiful and the times style with round forceful fat, give later ages in order to affect, win people from the bottom of one's heart praise. Millet of Shi Zai Xue once inscribed the forehead for general assist temple, 3 big character, each diameter 3 feet, strokes is powerful, structural interest is held out. Du Fu of Tang Dynasty great poet writes Shi Zandao: "Admire look hang down dew appearance, do not die Yi Buqian. Depressed 3 big character, photograph of Ji of flood dragon dragon tangles. " his calligraphy work still has " in high mountain tablet " , " Luoyang makes Zheng Chang tablet " , " letter travel a Buddhist monk is promoted teach tablet " , " tablet of prince rising celestial being " , " Shi Ji graph passes Buddha " etc, there is no lack of quite among them the calligraphy high-quality goods with accepted past dynasties.
Xue millet travel, regular script, only then see those who say place of Zhang Huai writes Yu Kaiyuan middle period " the book is broken " , merge into can taste, and stand pass say: "The book learns Zhu Gong, you Shangqi Li Mei is good, skin flesh gets division, the your pupil with fair Henan of it may be said, precious of the place when terribly still. " Du Fu ever saw temple of its general assist inscribes the forehead 3 big character, pen force is powerful, have " watch wall of Xue Shaobao painting and calligraphy " Shi Zanyun: "Admire look hang down dew appearance, do not die Yi Buqian. Depressed 3 big character, photograph of Ji of flood dragon dragon tangles. " direct Zuo " An Chuanshu postscript " bear breath Tang Ren, inspect heir of of lineal descent of a surname family name, its coil 7 have judge: "Xue Ji at the book, get Europe, anxiety, a surname, land (of Liu Jian) letters comes fully, yufake occupies reason. Like that its division bear hematic arteries and veins, it is at a surname close. As to the fine that use a pen thin, knot word dredge, do not be oneself again. " " the fine that use a pen is thin " , stem from painstakingly, it is one times style, not only Xue Ji so, his brother-in-law Xue Yao is fewer and plump and smooth-skinned. The family name of calligraphy out a surname of millet, although from time to tome novelty can not become Aeolus, like that eventually because of " the efficiency of rat exceeding stone, the attack by surprise of ashamed Sui Zhu kind " , fail all take off dimensions of a surname family name and alone Zhang Yijun. Rank " first Tang Sijia " , solid see inferior, its add Europe aing thoroghbred horse, anxiety, Zhu Zhe so, this the person that the lid discusses a book is get even number! Live a life " tablet of letter travel a Buddhist monk " , yue Wangzhen is written, divine Long Ernian (706) stands in Chang'an, it is its masterpiece.
Xue Ji has very tall writing ability again, "Article learning, the name flows when the coronal. " poetry is well written, " complete Tang poetry " the Communist Party of China collects its work 14.
In artistic domain, what top achievement obtains in Xue millet lifetime is painterly. A type of apply mechanically the ancients, can say he is about " the poem is inferior to a book, the book is not picturesque " . Xue Ji's brushwork is good at painting of flowers and birds in traditional Chinese style, character and mixed picture, and blame in order to draw a crane most essence of life is wonderful. Of the crane as painterly subject matter, can arrive with trace period of the Western Han Dynasty, but picture mark is very few, still do not talk to go up the ability law with mature what. Till Tang Dynasty painting of flowers and birds in traditional Chinese style the picture begins to become one of painterly special subject, appeared to be engaged in painting of flowers and birds in traditional Chinese style drawing the painter of creation with all one's strength subsequently, xue Ji is among them earlier and only in order to draw a the crane is famous, initiated the beginning that generation painting of flowers and birds in traditional Chinese style draws. This and the social environment at that time are very relative; Antediluvian times, the crane already entered literary work, on existent bronze ware, yi Ke sees the figure of the crane. Ancon of age the Warring States period, appeared to domesticate the account of the crane, wei Yi is fair because of raising a crane body dead country destroys, it is well-known historical story. Tang Dynasty bookman is to raise a crane to play a crane more, become common practice, the crane held stated position in their unripe draw together. Mirror to literary creation, appeared a batch of poetry that are subject matter with the crane. State when the character be deficient in somewhat. When making they feel malcontent, inevitable requirement aids the artistic emersion at figure. Then, crane picture is in painterly domain also with respect to follow a rational line to do some work well. Develop quickly widely rise. However, sincere be like " announce and a book on the art of drawing or painting " place character, "The person draw a crane of the world is much. Its fly cry the manner that drink pecks, appropriate gets for detailed. Draw a crane like that rare essence person, fan Dingzhi is shallow deep, the Li of cloak is weak, the accident of rostellum, of leg fine big, the relative superiority or inferiority of genu, have not see have one by one can sketchy person also. As to Bie Jixiong female, differentiate its north and south, especially place is bad. Although renown date is drawn for be apt to, and picture crane in order to hold ungual Fu De in the palm, also its are broken also. Reason (Xue) of millet hereat, quite extremely clever, appropriate gets a name at Gu Jinyan. " " reason character crane weighs millet surely, get a name in order to be. " the exterior feature that here mentions general painter Lian He cannot hold well and truly, huang talking depicts the mental temperament that gives a crane. The crane that particular Xue Ji draws, can extremely use up its clever, or the get rid of that peck liver mosses feather, or take big strides is considered inspect, or hold high establish a border, or fluctuation circle around, all without exception is lifelike, music to the top of one's bent shape, body spirit holds concurrently. The person draws Xue Ji even at that time crane, secretary is provincial fall astral stone (doubt namely aerolite) , cursive, Lang Yu makes He Zhizhang picture phoenix is called " 4 absolutely " . Tang Dynasty company of two great poets one'ses courtesy name, Li Bai ever was Xue Ji to draw a crane to inscribe a poem to make favour, from this, what can reflect force of work of millet giving Xue is uncommon.
Draws crane look look holds concurrently. Reached the degree of be vividly portrayed. Du Er's person says reason plum " picture quality is long be about to use up, cang Ran still gives this world " say " crane feeling changes with the god to essence of life, can get a vague impression and float smoke " . It seems that mural crane, want infuse life only, can defeat a wall to fly immediately, your person can'ts help associating " make the finishing point " fabulous. And Li Du 2 people more bepraise is more than, the sort of stand aloof ease that is place of Xue millet the wording and purpose of what one writes to show expressional crane is amounted to, and the temperament with dye-in-the-wood lofty and unyielding character. Namely alleged " Chi Xiao has true character, chi Jin of shame drink , dim allow what to go to, take off slightly who can domesticate " and " high-spirited stand for a long while Yi, be like Jing correct suddenly, form take an outlying place, situation watch giving a day " great-hearted mark case. This in a sense also can say is feudal bookman anchoretic symbolizes, and the extraction with average person the lucky riches and honour of meaning crane, having intention of completely different two kinds of culture. Mi Fei of Song Dai's great artist also puts starting point here, he is in " inscribe 2 cranes of Xue Ji " say in the poem, "Easy elegant pace is divided in front courtyard, vast and mighty leisurely mood puts 10 thousand lis. " say again; "Be addicted to of more than all one's life this is old (point to Xue Ji) , in addition without the sufficient person that be. " the intense resonance that conveyed he and Xue Ji's interval to jump over a times.
Painterly achievement, achievement of crane of Xue millet picture is very high, the influence is very far-reaching also. " picture of past dynasties name writes down " carry: "Screen 6 cranes appearance, from (Xue) millet only then also. " " appearance " , namely the model for painting of draw, xue Ji can be achieved " appearance " accept for social place, explained he is in the significant position on picture history. After. "6 cranes pursue " make a kind of calm case. Quan Ceng Huiliu fizzles out when the Five Dynasties crane at slanting on hall wall, this hall changes then say " 6 cranes hall " , till after more than 1000 years, draw is returned to have 6 cranes screen in clear Dai Gongting. The person that all through the ages learns Xue Ji to draw a crane is very much, be like cheap of Tang Dynasty a surnamewool grass famously, can " get its greatly clever " . Stone generation spends black painter Huang Quan, "Millet of crane division Xue " , and the latercomers surpass the formers, have a La Zhi praise.
The crane draws work, plan have " the crane that peck liver mosses pursues " , " Gu Buhe pursues " each one, " lucky crane pursues " (make " the crane pursues " ) 5, reach " 2 cranes pursue " , " play crane pursues " etc, these are reel pictures, additionally the crane draws mural to be in more; Courtyard of Ya of government office of Wang Zhai of Qi of lane of a high official in ancient China of hall of the man outside the member that like Tang Bi province of book province, a high official in ancient China studies industry, Luoyang, Chengdu arrange of the two hall, county that tell a spring, also be to spit an acknowledged classic.
Besides picture crane, character picture of Xue Ji and mixed picture also achieved very tall attainment. He draws forefathers recognition footprint is like Yanliben. Meaning of Li Bai Ceng Chi asks him to be Xin Anjun (treat today Anhui inhaling county) mural of Buddha of west of Xi'an temple picture is spread, style of writing or drawing is cheesy, charm Lian Xiu. By " renown picture records Tang Chao " label superb work, think to be able to be not promoted with Cao, piece compare of monk You photograph. Xue Ji draw has Pure Land to change mural is spread, du Fu writes Shi Zandao: "Brandish west changes, hair ground helps house rafter up. Gloomy wall flies move, to today color was not filled. " knowable this picture never is filled colored, belong to alleged " Bai Hua " , but still expression flies move, have touching artistic power. And, this kind of Bai Hua is unborn by Li Gonglin place is virgin " line drawing character " precursory, also can see Xue Ji's extraordinary modelling and line drawing ability from this. In addition, spirit of Chengdu static mind abandons mural of animal of black of character of millet having Xue 2 shops, "State state is vivid, therefore temporarily blame person also. Office of minister of the Ministry of Works in feudal China has his to cultivate stone mural, courtyard of Ya of Chengdu government office has mural of its Qing Niu to wait, also " live superb work " .