FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE HONG KONG COLLECTOR (LOTS 1375-1404) Zhang Daqian and the collector’s father Mr Li met during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Mr Li then owned textile mills in Chongqing, Chengdu and Baoji. The artist was in Dunhuang at the time, along with his family and students, studying and copying mural paintings in the Dunhuang caves. Mr Li knew that Zhang and his companions were in need of daily necessities, thus arranged for food and other essentials to be sent from Baoji to supply the group’s needs in Dunhuang. To express his gratitude, Zhang gifted several paintings to Mr Li, among which were the magnificent Red Lotus and Mandarin Ducks (Lot 1376) and Birds on Branch (Lot 1375), both fine examples of flower and bird paintings in the meticulous brush (gongbi) style in the prime of the artist’s life between 1943-44. The current collector has been focusing on supporting education by founding and donating to educational scholarships for many years. He devoted to the acquisitions of art in the 1980-90s, and amassed a wonderful collection of paintings. This collection offers an opportunity to revisit the family’s historical footprints and affinities for art.

DENG FEN (1894-1964)

Luohan and Guanyin

Details

DENG FEN (1894-1964)
Luohan and Guanyin
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
81.5 x 39.3 cm. (32 1/8 x 15 ½ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated ninth month, bingxu year (1946)
Dedicated to Zheng Chunting

Literature

Zheng Chunting, A Brief Introduction to Lingnan Modern Painters, Guangya She, August 1987, p. 250.

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Lot Essay

Zheng Chunting (1906-1990) was a famous poet and collector of Chinese paintings. He befriended many artists and people in the literary circles and received numerous works from them. His book, A Brief Introduction to Lingnan Modern Painters, is a valuable source for studying artists in the Lingnan region.

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