Page 72 - Fine Classical Chinese Paintings SOthebys Hong Kong April 1 2019

YU XING,
FISH POND

Yu Xing (1736-1795) was a court painter under
Emperor Qianlong. References to his biography
can be found within the history of painting
in passing. In Qing Shigao, it reads, “Yu Xing,
also known by his alias as Zengsan, was from
Changshu, Jiangsu. He was talented in depicting
intriguing life subjects. In the same period, Yang
Dazhang’s (1491-1568) ink and colour painting
was equally matched by Zou Yigui (1686-1772),
and the duo excelled in the depiction of flowers
and birds.”
A biographical sketch of Yu is also found in Hu
Jing’s Guochaoyuan Hualu, “Yu Xing, also known
as Zengsan or Luting, a native of Changshu,
worked on flowers, birds, insects, and fish.”
In Duhua Jilue, published anonymously in the
Qing Dynasty, references to Yu are as follows:
“Yu Xing, also known as Zengsan, a native of
Yushan (in Changshu). He lived in the household
of Minister Hai Wang for two decades, and he
has never been seen to be angry or agitated.
He excelled in painting flowers, birds, plants,
and insects, and practiced under the tutelage
of Jiang Tingxi. His intricate works are engaging
and lifelike, and his brushwork is invigorating.
The widespread reputation and extraordinary
status that he enjoyed were rare among his
peers. He was the court painter, and later retired
in his hometown.” Mentioned in the passage,
“Minister Hai Wang” belonged to a family of
Manchu nobility and was the highest ranking
official in the Ministry of Revenue during the
reign of Emperor Qianlong. From this reference,
we learn that Yu Xing was a guest painter in the
family of Minister Hai Wang, who served as a
minister in the Imperial Household Department.
Yu Xing also studied and practiced art with
imperial minister and renowned flower painter
Jiang Tingxi.
Yu Xing hailed from a family of artists in Yushan;
his father and brother were also accomplished
painters. In the Changzhao Hezhigao, the Yu
family was referred to juan 32, “Yu Xun, also
known as Xunruo and Jingshan, was talented in
depicting still life. He studied after Qiu Qingyu,
but also developed a style of his own. His
younger brother Yu Huang was also good at
portraits. His son was Yu Xing, also known as
Zengsan, Jiang Wensu recommended him to
serve as a court painter, where Yu Xing practiced
with a cohort of nine painters. Among them, Yu
Xing was treated very well, and often received

70 SOTHEBY ’S FINE CLASSICAL CHINESE PAINTINGS