與南雲帖 A request letter to Nanyun for his painting

【About the author】

王直，字行檢，泰和人。永樂甲申進士，入翰林為庶吉士，除修撰，侍皇子監國於南京。仁宗即位，陞侍講，遂為春坊庶子兼侍讀學士。宣宗即位，與修兩朝實錄。英宗即位，命充宣廟實錄總裁官，陞禮部侍郎，仍兼侍讀學士。久之，陞吏部尚書，尋加太子少保，再加少傅兼太子太師，掌吏部事。天順 元年春致仕，敕給驛還裡。卒，年八十三，謚文端。

Inside Story

promised him the painting, he thought about giving up the request as Nanyun had so much work to do and there was not enough time to paint. On the other hand he was so fond of his works that he changed his mind, instead he asked for eight official script characters, which are “remain tranquility in mind, talk and behave prudently”.