Under the Hammer
Iris Miao's Top Picks from The Reverend Richard Fabian Collection and Fine Chinese Paintings
The Bonhams Chinese Paintings department in Hong Kong offers some of the finest works of painting and calligraphy encompassing all genres, including landscape, bird-and-flower, figure and calligraphy. Dedicated sales are held twice a year
The auction offers a range of important works by Ming and Qing dynasty artists, highly sought-after works by 20th century masters such as Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, and Xu Beihong, as well as contemporary creations by artists at the cutting edge of Chinese painting and ink art.
Here we ask Chinese Painting specialist Iris Miao to share her highlights from her upcoming auctions: The Richard Fabian Collection of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy II and Fine Chinese Paintings, both taking place in Hong Kong this month.
Lot 603
Pan Zengying
Visiting Stelae at Heshuo
Lot 603. Pan Zengying, Visiting Stelae at Heshuo. Estimate: HK$ 70,000 - 90,000
Lot 603. Pan Zengying, Visiting Stelae at Heshuo. Estimate: HK$ 70,000 - 90,000
This very elegant handscroll was originally painted for Shen Tao (1792-1861), a diligent scholar-official who had an obsession with ancient stelae. During his 20-months tenure as magistrate of Zhending (now Zhengding county of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province), he discovered 250 ancient stelae, half of which came to light for the first time in history.
The painter himself, Pan Zengying, a well known scholar official who dabbled in painting and poetry from time to time, was born to a prestigious family in Suzhou. His brother and nephew had a significant collection of bronze vessels including Dake ding and Dayu ding now in the permanent collection of Shanghai Museum and National History Museum respectively.
The handscroll was accompanied by 14 of the artist’s contemporaries including his brother Pan Zengshou (1818-1883) and Han Chong (1783-1860), an established collector, epigraphist, and poet.
Lot 612
Xugu
Bronze Vessel with Three Friends of Winter
Lot 612. Xugu, Bronze Vessel with Three Friends of Winter. Estimate: HK$ 400,000 - 600,000
Lot 612. Xugu, Bronze Vessel with Three Friends of Winter. Estimate: HK$ 400,000 - 600,000
This is a brilliant example of the epigraphic aesthetics which not only influenced calligraphers and painters at the time, but also created a new genre in painting as demonstrated by the current lot. The bronze vessel, named Boge gui, was originally in the collection of scholar-official Ruan Yuan (1764-1849), a prominent scholar on epigraphy in the first half of 19th century.
The painter, Xugu, was one of the most innovative and eccentric monks of the Qing Dynasty. He is known for his simple yet bold compositions, elegant and subtle colouring, as well as intermittent brushstrokes. Three Friends of Winter is among the most popular subjects in Chinese painting, this is evidently a masterwork in Xugu’s repertoire.
Lot 802
Hongren
Tranquil Village in Late Spring
Lot 802. Hongren, Tranquil Village in Late Spring. Estimate: HK$ 1,500,000 - 2,000,000
Lot 802. Hongren, Tranquil Village in Late Spring. Estimate: HK$ 1,500,000 - 2,000,000
One of the celebrated “Four Monks” of the 17th century, Hongren is known for his reclusive, tranquil landscapes. With the fall of the Manchurian regime in 1644, Hongren chose to spend the remainder of his life in monasteries in and around Shexian, Anhui Province, the area of his birthplace, where he became a leading artist of the Huangshan, or Anhui, School of painting.
The current lot, executed in the third lunar month of bingshen (1656) year, was one of the best examples of Hongren’s angular, dry brushwork, as well as the stark, ungarnished simplicity of his trees and rocks.
Lot 843
Zhang Daqian
Three Scholars and Dragon; Poem in Running Script
Lot 843. Zhang Daqian, Three Scholars and Dragon; Poem in Running Script. Estimate: HK$ 20,000 - 30,000
Lot 843. Zhang Daqian, Three Scholars and Dragon; Poem in Running Script. Estimate: HK$ 20,000 - 30,000
Zhang Daqian has been dubbed by Xu Beihong as the “Greatest Artist of the Last Five Centuries”. Besides his acclaimed mastery of all genres in Chinese painting, Daqian created a style of his own in the late 1950s which brought him international recognition across the continents - splashed ink and colour.
Daqian was a man of the world, who left behind him some legendary stories of love and friendship. Many of his masterpieces were painted for his beloved friends, such is the case of the current lot.
An exceptionally rare composition with three scholars looking up to a dragon swirling amidst clouds, it is perhaps a fond reminiscence of a visit to the beautiful Yandang Mountain. The trip Daqian made with four friends including the recipient of this folding fan, Fang Jiekan (1901-1987), a very talented seal carver, has been a constant inspiration throughout his career.
Lot 866
Wu Changshuo
Seasonal Flowers
Lot 866. Wu Changshuo, Seasonal Flowers. Estimate: HK$ 1,000,000 - 2,000,000
Lot 866. Wu Changshuo, Seasonal Flowers. Estimate: HK$ 1,000,000 - 2,000,000
The folding screen has been a common piece of furniture in ancient and modern Japanese households, with both practical and decorative functions - dividing large open spaces into more intimate and private areas. In the hands of famous artists, the humble screen soon became an artwork in its own right.
The current lot, a six-panel, ink and colour, painted on pure-gold screen was commissioned by Saionji Kinmochi (1849-1940), a politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. Saionji was an admirer and patron of the art of Wu Changshuo and would often visit the artist. Once, on his way to the Paris Peace Conference after World War I in January 1919, Saionji famously made a stop in Shanghai to join Wu Changshuo and his artist friends at a banquet!
For more from our Global Chinese Works of Art team, follow @bonhamschinese on Instagram.
Built with Shorthand