Page 101 - Bonhams Art from the Scholar's Studio, September 16, 2013 NY

8146

8146
Attributed to Chen Mei (1694-1745)
Portrait of a Noble Official
Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk, bearing nine seals, including five Qianlong and Jiaxing imperial
collection seals.
38 1/2 x 69 3/4in (97.8 × 177.2cm)
$8,000 - 12,000
陳枚 高士圖 設色絹本 横幅
A native of Songjiang, Chen Mei painted in service of both the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors.
Skilled in architectural painting (jiehua), Chen Mei was one of several court artists who contributed to
creating a copy of the Zhang Zeduan’s Song dynasty masterpiece Qingming Shanghe Tu, in addition
to painting an album illustrating the production of rice and silk. Also a talented portraitist, Chen Mei
was influenced by the presence of the Milanese missionary Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), at
times joining the European artist in collaborative works. The naturalistic depiction of this unnamed
official or prince demonstrates Chen Mei’s fluid assimilation of European approaches with his own
deep understanding of traditional Chinese painting. Although absent of signature or artist’s seal, the
painting’s attribution to this important early Qing court artist is highly likely.

Chinese Art From The Scholar’s Studio | 99