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PREVIOUSLY FROM THE FAMILY COLLECTION OF K’UNG HSIANG-HSI 孔祥熙家族舊藏精品 (LOT 851)Wang Duo’s remarkable calligraphy is based on his profound knowledge of traditional brush techniques through studying and copying model calligraphies. By the late Ming, hanging scrolls, especially gigantic ones measuring almost three meters high, had become the major format of calligraphy. Sharing the prestige with Dong Qichang as masters of calligraphy of the late Ming period, Wang’s striking calligraphic style was widely emulated by his contemporaries like Fu Shan. The modern artist Wu Changshuo praised Wang’s calligraphy the best of the Ming dynasty.After Chu Suiliang’s Jia Zhi Tie in Running Script exemplifies the power and rhythmic movements of Wang Duo’s calligraphy. Executed in 1637 on a very large scroll of satin, Wang wielded his brush while standing and moved his wrist and arm unfalteringly, emphasizing the visual effect through connecting brushstrokes between characters and contrasting large and small characters. Wang’s use of moist and heavy ink led to bleeding of ink in some characters, which made their outlines become vague. Yet it does not affect the visibility of the original traces of dots and strokes. In fact, it shows Wang’s confidence and precision when he started composing the characters. No wonder in the 1990s the Japanese highly praised Wang Duo’s calligraphy.After Chu Suiliang’s Jia Zhi Tie in Running Script was once in the collection of K’ung Hsiang-Hsi (1881-1967). A Yale graduate and successful businessman playing a pivotal role in the government, K’ung was the husband of Soong Ailing (1889-1973), eldest of the three famed Soong sisters and the brother-in-law of Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek. With such an illustrious provenance, After Chu Suiliang’s Jia Zhi Tie in Running Script is definitely not to be missed.
WANG DUO (1592-1652)
After Chu Suiliang’s Jia Zhi Tie in Running Script
Details
WANG DUO (1592-1652)
After Chu Suiliang’s Jia Zhi Tie in Running Script
Hanging scroll, ink on satin
277 x 52.5 cm. (109 x 20 5/8 in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated dingchou year (1637)
Dedicated to Fuyu
After Chu Suiliang’s Jia Zhi Tie in Running Script
Hanging scroll, ink on satin
277 x 52.5 cm. (109 x 20 5/8 in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated dingchou year (1637)
Dedicated to Fuyu
Provenance
Collection of K’ung Hsiang-Hsi.
Lot 1063, 1 June 2015, Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy, Christie’s Hong Kong.
Lot 1063, 1 June 2015, Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy, Christie’s Hong Kong.
Brought to you by
Amy Yang