Chinese masterpieces to go under the hammer
"Lotus" by Zhang Daqian in 1980
A collection of antique and contemporary Chinese ink-wash paintings and calligraphy works will go under the hammer of Poly Auction House from June 17 to 21 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beijing.
Some of these masterpieces will be displayed at a preview on June 6-7 at the Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai.
Aside from paintings, the auction will also include antiques, vintage books, jewelry and luxury watches.
One highlight is a 1980 painting by Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), which is considered an excellent example of his works in his later years.
Zhang is widely seen as one of the greats of traditional Chinese painting, with a prolific career that spanned Argentina, Brazil, the United States and China.
Born into a family of artists in Neijiang, Sichuan Province, Zhang studied textile-dyeing in Kyoto, Japan. From 1941 to 1944, he went to Dunhuang in Gansu Province to make replica paintings in the Mogao Grottoes.
He copied nearly 276 murals and founded a new school of painting based on ancient Buddhist art.
After a successful painting career in Shanghai, Zhang left the country in 1949. This precipitated a period of extensive travel for the artist, who lived in various places such as Argentina, Brazil and the US, before settling down in China’s Taiwan in 1978.
Deteriorating eyesight led Zhang to take up an increasingly bold, expressive style. In the 1960s he became known as a guiding figure in modern impressionism.
Another highlight is an album painting by Qi Baishi (1864-1957). Qi is widely recognized as one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. His paintings epitomize Chinese tradition using innovative form and style.
Preview:
Date: June 6-7, 9am-7pm
Venue: 5/F, Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai
Address: 1218 Yan’an Rd M., Shanghai
Auction:
Date: June 17-21, 9:30am
Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Address: 48 Liangmaqiao Rd, Beijing
An album painting by Qi Baishi
