Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Spectacular Mountains in Spring Snow; Calligraphy, 1967, splashed ink and colour on paper; ink on paper, set of two, framed calligraphy: 67.5 by 185.5 cm painting: 67.2 by 186.8 cm Estimate: HK$28,000,000 – 40,000,000 / US$3,500,000 – 5,000,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Paintings Spring Sale 2018 will be held on 2 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Estimated in excess of HK$200 million*, the sale features 280 exquisite paintings by modern Chinese artists and is headlined by two works making their auction debuts: Spectacular Mountains in Spring Snow, a prodigious six-foot long Zhang Daqian splashed ink-and-colour painting and calligraphy, and a work by Huang Binhong commissioned in celebration of renowned book collector Mo Boji’s 70th birthday. Other highlights include a Fu Baoshi scroll depicting a dramatic snow trekking scene from the 1940s from the M K Lau Collection and a number of important pieces from notable collections, such as works by Yu Fei’an from The Goldbell Collection and paintings and calligraphy from the Zhang Daqian Family Collection.
Carmen Ip, Acting Head of Department, Fine Chinese Paintings, Sotheby’s Asia, comments, “This season, our Fine Chinese Paintings sale is distinguished by high calibre and fresh-to-the-market works from prominent collections, many with special connections to the artists. A monumental Zhang Daqian splashed ink-and-colour painting, gifted to his close friend, and Huang Binhong’s Studio Amid Majestic Mountains, commissioned in celebration of Mo Boji’s 70th birthday, are just two of the many highlights in our April sale that cannot be missed.”
SALE HIGHLIGHTS
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Spectacular Mountains in Spring Snow; Calligraphy, 1967, splashed ink and colour on paper; ink on paper, set of two, framed calligraphy: 67.5 by 185.5 cm; painting: 67.2 by 186.8 cm; Estimate: HK$28,000,000 – 40,000,000 / US$3,500,000 – 5,000,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
A gift from the artist to his dear friend, Zhang Muhan, Zhang Daqian’s Spectacular Mountains in Spring Snow is an exceptionally rare and personal piece. Measuring six feet, this magnificent painting depicts an undulating mountain range with its peaks dusted in snow, while the accompanying calligraphy refers directly to the close friendship between the two. The poem, written in beautiful script, describes the towns of Anhui and Sichuan, the birth places of Zhang Daqian and Zhang Muhan respectively. Of significant size and boasting exceptional provenance, the work was executed at the height of Zhang Daqian’s career.
Important Work from the Mo Boji Family Collection
Huang Binhong (1864-1955), Studio Amid Majestic Mountains, 1947, ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll, 128.5 by 61 cm. Estimate: HK$15,000,000 - 20,000,000 / US$2,000,000 – 2,500,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
Huang Binhong’s Studio Amid Majestic Mountains is a spectacular scroll, commissioned by Peiyue for his father Mo Boji’s 70th birthday. A gem of the esteemed Mo Boji Family Collection, the landscape is colossal in size and detailed in nature. Thick with impasto and vibrant with powerful brush strokes, the painting features inscriptions of two poems, a reference to the family’s love of writing. Befitting of the celebratory nature of this commission, the paper used for the work was especially made during the 49th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign in honour of his birthday celebration.
From the M K Lau Collection
Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), Scholars Trekking in Snow Mountains, 1945, ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll, 88.5 by 56.3 cm. Estimate Upon Request. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
Fu Baoshi’s Scholars Trekking in Snow Mountains beautifully combines the artist’s eye for detail with his interest in history. Drawing inspiration and reference from the biography of Tang Dynasty poet, Han Yu, and in particular his journey to Chaoyang in a winter due to his demotion, the present work vividly portrays Han trekking through the narrow, winding mountain paths buried in snow and enveloped by withered trees and sharp rocks. Representative of Fu Baoshi’s oeuvre, Scholars Trekking in Snow Mountains has been exhibited across Europe and Asia and has been recorded extensively in catalogues and publications.
From An Asian Private Collection
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Majestic Mountains in Sichuan, 1940, ink and colour on paper, framed, 146 by 81 cm. Estimate: HK$15,000,000 – 18,000,000 / US$2,000,000 – 2,300,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
Depicting a panoramic view of the mountains of Sichuan, this painting is remarkable for its extensive layering of ink, which successfully creates a sense of depth. The painting also bears two seals of the artist, specially made for works depicting Mount Qingcheng and Mount Emei which are rarely seen together in the same work.
OTHER SALE HIGHLIGHTS
Property from a Private Collection: Fu Baoshi, Beauty Under the Willows, ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll, 105 by 30.5 cm. Estimate: HK$ 8,000,000 – 12,000,000 / US$1,000,000 – 1,500,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
Collection of the Artist’s Seventh Son: Zhang Xinyi. Zhang Daqian, Self Portrait in Mount Huang, 1961, ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll, 192 by 102 cm, Estimate: HK$ 8,000,000 – 12,000,000 / US$1,000,000 – 1,500,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
From an Important Private Collection: Li Keran, Lofty Mountains in the Mist, 1988, ink and colour on paper, framed, 92 by 52 cm. Estimate: HK$ 9,000,000 – 12,000,000 / US$1,100,000 – 1,500,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.
