FROM THE LAST STUDENT OF ZHANG DAQIAN The owner of this collection James C. Kung was born in 1915 in Shanghai. With an active career in the financial field, he was branch president of the Bank of China in Bangkok, and Tokyo, and vice-president of the New York branch; as well as branch president and manager of Chemical Bank in Taipei, Taiwan. Chinese painting and calligraphy were his greatest passion in life, while his wife, Janet Kung, taught herself to paint. The paintings and calligraphy by Zeng Xi, Wu Peifu, and Qing Daoren were among the traditional works that Mr. Kung collected, studied, and enjoyed. In a traditional Chinese Pupil Ceremony in a Broadway restaurant in New York city, Mr. Kung was accepted as Zhang Daqian's last student. The couple were frequent dinner guests at the artist's home in Taipei while James Kung was the branch president of Chemical Bank, and it was there that they became part of the inner social circle which remained true until and beyond the death of the venerated artist. The painting collection accompanied the Kungs across the Pacific to Alhambra, California thirteen years ago. James C. Kung passed away on October 23, 2001 in Alhambra.

ZHANG SHANZI (1882-1940) AND ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

TIGERS

Details

ZHANG SHANZI (1882-1940) AND ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
TIGERS
Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper
Inscribed and signed by Zhang Daqian, with two seals, and one seal of Zhang Shanzi
50¾ x 20 in. (129 x 50.8 cm.)

Provenance

Acquired directly from the artist, Zhang Daqian.

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Lot Essay

James and Janet Kung received numerous paintings from Zhang Daqian, who was Mr. Kung's teacher, while the Kungs lived in Taipei. This painting by Zhang Daqian, who painted the landscape, and his brother, who contributed the tigers, were amongst this group.

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