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Lot Essay
The present stone panel was based on a painting titled Santai zhu shi tu (‘Stone pillar of Santai ’) by the Qing dynasty artist Gao Fenghan (1683-1749), now in the collection of the Tianjin Museum.
Born into an erudite family, Gao served briefly in the government as governor of She county in Anhui province, but was embroiled in a series of political conflicts leading to a short period of imprisonment, during which his right hand was paralyzed. Once his charges were cleared and he was released from prison, Gao resigned from political life and moved to Yangzhou, where he became acquainted with the local literati circle and began to make a living by selling his paintings, which were highly sought after by wealthy families and connoisseurs in the area. After losing mobility in his right hand in 1737 because of illness, Gao underwent rigorous training to paint with his left hand, resulting in an even bolder and freer style, which earned him his place as one of the greatest painters in Yangzhou, and he was sometimes regarded as one of the famed Eight Eccentrics.
The original painting on which the present lot was based was painted in the 7th year of the Yongzheng reign (1729), thus the work represents the Gao's original style before he began painting with his left hand.
Born into an erudite family, Gao served briefly in the government as governor of She county in Anhui province, but was embroiled in a series of political conflicts leading to a short period of imprisonment, during which his right hand was paralyzed. Once his charges were cleared and he was released from prison, Gao resigned from political life and moved to Yangzhou, where he became acquainted with the local literati circle and began to make a living by selling his paintings, which were highly sought after by wealthy families and connoisseurs in the area. After losing mobility in his right hand in 1737 because of illness, Gao underwent rigorous training to paint with his left hand, resulting in an even bolder and freer style, which earned him his place as one of the greatest painters in Yangzhou, and he was sometimes regarded as one of the famed Eight Eccentrics.
The original painting on which the present lot was based was painted in the 7th year of the Yongzheng reign (1729), thus the work represents the Gao's original style before he began painting with his left hand.