• Fine Chinese Ceramics and Work auction at Christies

    Sale 2339

    Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

    New York

    |

    16 - 17 September 2010

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    • WEN CONGCHANG (ACTIVE 1593-161
    Lot 1043

    WEN CONGCHANG (ACTIVE 1593-1617)

    SCENIC SUZHOU

    Price realised

    USD 35,000

    Estimate

    USD 12,000 - USD 15,000

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    WEN CONGCHANG (ACTIVE 1593-1617)
    Scenic Suzhou
    Fan, mounted and framed, ink and color on gold paper
    Inscribed with a poem and signed: Wen Congchang, with one seal
    Four colophons with poems, one each by Wen Zhenheng (1585-1645), Wen Congjian (1574-1648), Wen Qianguang (dated 1614), and Wen Chongguang (1575-1659), each signed and with one seal
    24 5/8 x 7 in. (55 x 17.8 cm.)

    Provenance

    Formerly owned by Jean-Pierre Dubosc (1903-1988), Kamakura.
    Kaikodo, New York, 2003.

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    Lot Essay

    The painting and inscribed poems celebrate the scenic splendors of Suzhou. As he writes in his accompanying poem, Wen Congchang depicted Chang Gate and the ships that sailed on the river below, the sight of the battlements in the glow of sunset, and men on Orchid Bridge looking out over the horizon. His relatives inscribed additional poems lauding the same lovely views.

    These men were part of one of the most cultured families in Suzhou, the relatives of Wen Zhengming (1470-1559). Wen Congchang was the grandson of Wen Boren, who was Wen Zhengming's nephew; Wen Zhenheng and Wen Congjian were both great grandsons of Wen Zhengming; and Wen Qianguang and Wen Chongguang were brothers within the same clan.

    The art dealer Jean-Pierre Dubosc was one of the first connoisseurs of Chinese paintings in the West to appreciate paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, rather than favoring only very early works. His first wife was the daughter of C.T. Loo, and Dubosc later was instrumental in helping to build many public and private Chinese art collections in Europe and the United States.

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