Page 145 - March 17 2017 Chinese Art NYC, Christies

1120
A RARE LARGE RECTANGULAR SLATE
PANEL

18TH-19TH CENTURY
The dark greyish-black stone panel is well carved
in low relief with a towering rock formation rising
from a stippled-efect ground, beside a lengthy
inscription referring to the scene and seal marks,
and the reverse is uncarved.
37Ω in. (95.2 cm.) high, 13¡ in. (34 cm.) wide, 1¿
in. (2.9 cm.) deep

$25,000-35,000

The present stone panel was based on a painting
titled Santai zhu shi tu (‘Stone pillar of Santai ’) by
the Qing dynasty artist Gao Fenghan (1683-1749),
now in the collection of the Tianjin Museum.

Born into an erudite family, Gao served briefy
in the government as governor of She county in
Anhui province, but was embroiled in a series
of political conficts leading to a short period
of imprisonment, during which his right hand
was paralyzed. Once his charges were cleared
and he was released from prison, Gao resigned
from political life and moved to Yangzhou, where
he became acquainted with the local literati
circle and began to make a living by selling his
paintings, which were highly sought after by
wealthy families and connoisseurs in the area.
After losing mobility in his right hand in 1737
because of illness, Gao underwent rigorous
training to paint with his left hand, resulting in an
even bolder and freer style, which earned him his
place as one of the greatest painters in Yangzhou,
and he was sometimes regarded as one of the
famed Eight Eccentrics.

The original painting on which the present lot
was based was painted in the 7th year of the
Yongzheng reign (1729), thus the work represents
Gao’s original style before he began painting with
his left hand.
清十八/十九世紀 石刻高鳳翰《三台柱石圖》

1121-1130 No Lots

143