Page 128 - 2020 November 30 Bonhams Rev. Richard Fabian Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Hong Kong

CHEN BANDING (1876-1970)
Original name Nian, used the courtesy names Banding, Banchi, and
Jingshan, and was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. In his
twenties, Chen followed his uncle Wu Yin to Shanghai to work for
the Shanghai entrepreneur and collector Yan Xinhou, in his studio
“Xiaochanglu Guan”, specializing in calligraphy rubbings, engravings,
and couplets. Later, Chen became acquainted with and a student of
Wu Changshuo, which allowed him to study closely with him on a daily
basis for ten years. During this time, Chen’s painting skills improved
significantly. In 1906, at Jin Cheng’s invitation, Chen moved to Beijing
and started a living by selling paintings. He was considered a pioneer,
bringing Southern school styles to the north, and was referred to as
the backbone of Beijing painters. He taught at Beijing Fine Art School,
Chinese Painting Research Association, and Peking University. In
1956, he advocated building the Beijing Art Academy together with
Ye Gongchuo and others, and later served as vice principal of the
academy. Chen was talented in calligraphy, paintings, and seal carving.
His flower paintings were rooted in the styles of Wu Changshuo and
Ren Bonian, and were also inspired by Xu Wei, Chen Chun, Bada
Shanren, and Yun Shouping. Thus, he created his own unique pictorial
style. His oeuvres were heavily influenced by epigraphic aesthetics, but
were also appealing to the literati with its ethereal essence and elegant
colours. His publications include The Painting Collection of Chen
Banding and Selected Works by Chen Banding.
陳半丁（1876-1970）
名年，字半丁，一作半癡，又字靜山。浙江紹興人。弱冠隨表叔吳隱
到上海實業家、收藏家嚴信厚小長廬館做工，為其拓印、刻帖及楹
联。得識吳昌碩並拜入門下，「旦夕得同室深研，有十年之久，獲益
匪淺」，又得任伯年指點翎毛、人物，畫藝大進。一九〇六年應金城
之邀赴北京，鬻畫為生，領「南風北漸」之先，為民國北京畫壇中
堅。先後執教於北平藝專、中國畫學研究會、北京大學。一九五六
年，與葉公綽等共同倡議成立北京畫院，其後出任畫院副院長。陳氏
書、畫、印兼擅。寫意花卉自缶翁、伯年而溯至青藤、白陽、八大、
南田，融諸家之法而化出己貌，富金石之味又兼文人雅意，作品瀟灑
清逸、設色明麗，雅俗共賞。有《陳半丁畫集》、《陳半丁花卉譜》
等刊行。

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