Page 74 - 2020 November 30 Bonhams Rev. Richard Fabian Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Hong Kong

WU DACHENG (1835-1902)
Birth name Dachun, he used the courtesy names Zhijing and Qingqing,
sobriquets Hengxuan, Baiyunshanqiao and Kezhai in old age. He was
a native of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. He obtained his jinshi degree in
1867 (the sixth year of the Tongzhi Period), and later serving a number
of posts including as compilation official, and an education official
in Shaanxi, Daoyuan (sub-regional administrator) of Hebei Province,
left vice censors-in-chief, and Governor of Guangdong and Hunan
Provinces. He had a good political reputation, but was subsequently
dismissed from office because of the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese
War. Wu was an expert in art authentication, calligraphy, painting, seal
engraving, and especially epigraphy,tirelessly inspecting monuments
and inscriptions. He had an abundant art collection, including ancient
bronzes, ancient jades, rubbings from stone inscriptions, ancient seals,
clay seals, study tools, paintings and calligraphy, having appreciated
more than 10,000 pieces in 20 years. Amongst his collectionwere
famous bronze vessels such as the Jiliangfu He and the Ke Ding. He
was close friends with Chen Jieqi, Pan Zuyin and Wang Yirong, and
they often consulted with each other. His publications include About
Words, Collection on Classical Writings by Ke Studio, Antique Jades
and Seals Collected by Shiliujinfu Studio.

吳大澂（1835-1902）
初名大淳，字止敬，又字清卿，號恆軒、白雲山樵，晚號愙齋。江
蘇蘇州人。同治六年（1867）進士，授編修，歷任陝西學政、河北
道、左副都御史、廣東巡撫、湖南巡撫，頗有政聲，後因中日甲午戰
爭失利而慘遭罷黜。吳大澂精於鑑別，亦工書擅畫、兼鐫刻。尤擅金
石學，考察古蹟、觀摩碑文，孜孜不倦。富收藏，廿年間，吉金、
古玉、碑帖、古印、封泥、文房、書畫等，過眼不下萬餘件，不乏
季良父盉、愙鼎等青銅重器。與陳介祺、潘祖蔭、王懿榮交好，常相
切磋。著有《說文古籀補》、《字說》、《愙齋集古錄》、《古玉圖
考》、《十六金符齋印存》等。

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