Page 7 - Sotheby's Part II Collection of Sir Joeseph Hotung Collection CHINESE ART , Oct. 9, 2022

A huanghuali folding horseshoe-back armchair, jiaoyi,
Late Ming dynasty (lot 11) in Sir Joseph's home
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Photographed in Sir Joseph Hotung’s home
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Among the Old Master Paintings in the collection is the Marguerite to the avant-garde portraits on paper by Matisse
Portrait of a man by Frans Hals and Studio, painted circa 1634- and Giacometti. The insight Sir Joseph sought from looking
35, when Hals was at the height of his career and demand at his collection was most fascinatingly provided by Vuillard,
for his work was ever increasing. The confidence of the deft whose works provided wholly original and unique viewpoints
brushwork in the man’s head exemplifies Hals’ innovative of social gatherings, sumptuous interiors, and in the case of
approach to portraiture. It was precisely the nature of this his portrait of Yvette Guillbert in Le Divan Japonais a literally
‘spontaneous expression’ that ‘There are people who go through their ‘over-the-shoulder’ view of a
attracted Sir Joseph Hotung to Paris cabaret, which initially
the portrait, a fact well known by whole lives without art, I nearly did. But dazzles the casual viewer
the family with whom he shared his their lives are perhaps not as dimensional with its scintillating palette of
fascination. or as full of colour as it could be’. orange, red and yellow until
the singer’s extraordinary
The collection is strong in works of late 19th century French profile is brought into focus.
painting which possesses a rich seam of intimate connections Sir Joseph is quoted as saying ‘There are people who go
between the artists and their subjects, many of which are through their whole lives without art, I nearly did. But their lives
portraits of friends and family. For Sir Joseph these portraits are perhaps not as dimensional or as full of colour as it could
represented so much more than likenesses, they reveal be’. It is the collection that is the result of this philosophy that
the history of the painters’ social and artistic milieu from a Sotheby’s is proud and honoured to present in this series of
different perspective. These range from Degas’ masterful auctions, showing to the world for the first time, the true taste
depictions of Eugene Manet, Jules Perrot and the artist’s sister and sophistication of this most private and self-effacing of
gentlemen.

12 I FOR COMPLETE CATALOGUING ༉းྡ፽ʫ࢙ሗᓭᚎ SOTHEBYS.COM/HK1292