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Lot Essay
The owner of this painting James C Kung was born in 1915 in Shanghai. With an active career in the financial field, he was branch president of Bank of the Republic of China in Bangkok, New York and Tokyo; as well as branch president and manager of the Chemical Bank in Taipei, Taiwan. Chinese painting and calligraphy was his greatest passion in his life, while his wife, Janet Kung, taught herself oil painting.
The painting was gifted to James Kung by Zhang Daqian in the 1970s, when Kung and his wife were residing in Taipei. Prior to that, in a traditional Chinese Pupil Ceremony in New York, Mr. Kung was accepted as Zhang's last student. The couple were frequent dinner guests at the artist's home, and it was there that they became part of the inner social circle which remained true until and beyond the passing of the venerated artist. The painting was proudly displayed in their Taipei home, enjoying centre attention, until eleven years ago, when it accompanied the Kungs and journeyed across the Pacific to Alhambra, California. James C Kung passed away on October 23, 2001 in Alhambra, California.
Zhang Daqian with James and Janet Kung.
The painting was gifted to James Kung by Zhang Daqian in the 1970s, when Kung and his wife were residing in Taipei. Prior to that, in a traditional Chinese Pupil Ceremony in New York, Mr. Kung was accepted as Zhang's last student. The couple were frequent dinner guests at the artist's home, and it was there that they became part of the inner social circle which remained true until and beyond the passing of the venerated artist. The painting was proudly displayed in their Taipei home, enjoying centre attention, until eleven years ago, when it accompanied the Kungs and journeyed across the Pacific to Alhambra, California. James C Kung passed away on October 23, 2001 in Alhambra, California.
Zhang Daqian with James and Janet Kung.