PREVIOUSLY IN THE COLLECTION OF IMAI TAKUDO Imai Takudo (1858 - 1918), original name Imai Magoichi, whose family was the great household in the Echigo (now Niigata prefecture) from the late 17th century, was a great entrepreneur who established Imai Bank in 1900. He was well-respected for his contribution to the modernization of the finance, marine businesses and on social work affairs. In 1903 he founded Yoshida Hospital by his own effort. Mr Imai studied under Tomioka Tessai (1837-1924), painter and an influential scholar of Chinese classics, and received the pen name Takudo. Tessai stayed in the Imai's house and assisted to build the collection of Chinese classical paintings and calligraphy. The lots here were entrusted to the Tokyo National Museum under their care and storage from the 1970s until they are offered to the present auction.

MA QUAN (17TH-18TH CENTURY)

Flowers

Details

MA QUAN (17TH-18TH CENTURY)
Flowers
Handscroll, ink and colour on silk
28 x 344 cm. (11 x 135 3/8 in.)
Signed, with two seals of the artist
One collector's seal
1

Exhibited

Chinese Paintings of Birds and Flowers in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tokyo National Museum, 23 March - 24 April 2005.

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Lot Essay

Born in Changshu county in Jiangsu province, Ma Quan (17th - 18th century) was famed for painting flowers. With her husband Gong Kehe, who was also a painter, she visited Beijing, earning a living by selling paintings. After Gong's death, Ma returned home, began teaching Chinese painting to female students and continued selling works. Whereas Ma was praised for her Gouran style (applying ink or/and colours after sketching the objects with ink), Yun Bing, another female painter, built up her reputation by painting using the Meigu method (directly applying ink or/and colours without first sketching the objects). They were praised as the two most accomplished female painters by the people in the Jiangnan region.

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