His name was
唐寅, and
伯虎 was his courtesy name. A native of
苏州, he came first in the provincial exam of 1498, but a cheating scandal at the capital exam the next year ended his hopes of office, and he lived by selling paintings. He is one of the
江南四大才子 with
祝枝山,
文徵明 and
徐祯卿.
