Page 32 - Christie's Fine Cinese Classical Paintings, May 31 to June 1, 2023 Hong Kong

FROM THE COLLECTION OF PROFESSOR WEN FONG 方聞教授收藏 (LOTS 822-823)

823

823
WANG YUANQI (1642-1715) Qing, Wang Yuanqi (1642-1715) was and paintings in imperial collection for
Landscape after Song and Yuan Masters tutored by his grandfather, the prominent many years.
A set of eleven loose album leaves, ink and artist Wang Shimin (1592-1680). Like his 1708 was also the year Paintings and
Calligraphy in Peiwen Studio, the
grandfather, he advocated the emulation
colour/ink on paper of the work of the Song and Yuan masters, compilation of the imperial collection
Each leaf measures 35 x 30.2 cm. which formed the foundation of the which Wang Yuanqi presided over
(13 Æ x 11 √ in.) orthodox style of painting. A prominent and supervised, was completed. In the
Ten leaves of painting: eight leaves inscribed court official, he served as the keeper colophon of Landscape after Song and
and two leaves inscribed and signed, with a of the imperial collection and often Yuan Masters, he proposes that learning
total of twelve seals of the artist accompanied Kangxi in viewings. It is from the style of the masters should not
First leaf dated spring, wuzi year (1708) recorded that the Emperor also enjoyed be limited to mere imitation. Drawing
One leaf of colophon by the artist, dated observing him during the act of painting. inspiration from the masters of the Song
winter, wuzi year (1708) with three seals Painted from spring to winter over the and Yuan dynasties, the present album is
Five collector’s seals including two of Wu course of 1708, Landscape after Song and a testament to the artist’s wish to ‘express
Weiguang (1743-1803) Yuan Masters dates to the height of artist’s my own perspective’. Also of note is that
Titleslip by Wu Weiguang, dated gengshen late period as Wang Yuanqi notes in his each leaf bears a different artist’s seal,
year (1800), signed with two seals colophon, in the quiet moments during his with no repetition, suggesting that Wang
LITERATURE: service at the Changchun Garden. Each Yuanqi took particular care in completing
Kei Suzuki ed., Comprehensive Illustrated leaf interprets the style of an earlier artist, the album. The album was collected by
Catalog of Chinese Paintings: Vol. 1 American including Wu Zhen, Lu Hong, Dong collectors including Wu Weiguang (1743-
Collections, Private Collection, University of Yuan, Wang Meng, Huang Gongwang, 1803) and Miao Qi (1821-1885).
Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 1983, pp. I-167-168, Ni Zan, Mi Youren, Cao Zhibai, Li
pl. A18-033. Cheng, Ju Ran and Guo Xi. Reducing HK$3,000,000-5,000,000
the artists’ schema to abstract geometric US$390,000-640,000
NOTE: forms, his brushwork is assured and
The youngest of the artists collectively confident, undoubtedly benefitting from 清 王原祁 宋元畫意 設色／水墨紙本
known as the Four Wangs of the early the rare experience of viewing calligraphy
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