Page 78 - Christie's Hong Kong Chinese Paintings May 28 to 29 2022

Never be Apart: Emperor Qianlong andWashing Horses

In the autumn of 1735, the 24-year-old crown prince Hongli Emperor Qianlong and one from his son, Emperor Jiaqing (r. 1796–
inscribed a pentatonic poem on the frontispiece of Zhao Mengfu’s 1820). Evidently Emperor Qianlong acquired this work in his youth
(1254-1322) Washing Horses handscroll. Untrammeled and sinuous, and continued to treasure it as he brought it with him to the imperial
Hongli’s aristocratically elegant calligraphy seemingly leaps from the study.
paper.
One of the rarest aspect of Washing Horses is the fact that it has
Hongli was an avid collector during his crown prince years. retained the original mounting. Made in the imperial atelier, the
According to the imperial catalogue Shiqu Baoji, 38 works he two well-preserved silk and brocade wraps are incredibly soft. The
collected from this period are included in its compilation. Many of delicately carved jade clasp is embodied on the reverse ‘Appreciated
the extant masterpieces, such as Tang Yin’s Long Days in Tranquil by Emperor Qianlong, Zhao Mengfu’s Washing Horses’ in gold. The
Mountains and Tang Dai’s Playing Zither under Pine Trees, are currently other fabric and paper pieces in the mounting are equally refined,
preserved at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. It is extremely with thoughtful design to emphasize the contrast of colors and
rare that Washing Horses still remain in private hands. patterns.

A few months after Hongli’s inscription, he ascended the throne and After the relocation from the crown prince’s mansion to the
become Emperor Qianlong (r. 1735–1796). Consequently, Washing emperor’s study in the Forbidden Palace, the Washing Horses
Horses was transferred from his crown prince mansion to the imperial handscroll and its accessories have virtually retained its original
study. In 1744, Emperor Qianlong ordered the compilation and appearance. In April of 1915, it was sold to Yamanaka & Co. and
editing of Shiqu Baoji, in order to have a comprehensive record of the entered the Fujita Art Museum’s collection in Japan. A century
imperial collection of paintings and calligraphy. Details of Washing later, it was sold as part of a selection of works from the museum at
Horses, including the text of the frontispiece and the various seals Christie’s New York in March 2017. This record-breaking auction
pressed on it are presented in Chapter 34. attracted numerous collectors around the world, leading to energetic
biddings. This event certainly has contributed to the increased
The information recorded in Shiqu Baoji is corroborated by attention showered on Chinese classical paintings and calligraphy
examining Washing Horses. The handscroll also bears three seals from since then. After more than a century as a peripatetic masterpiece,
Hongli when he was the crown prince, three imperial seals from Washing Horses now has the potential to return to its homeland.

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