Page 112 - Fine Chinese Art Bonhams London May 2018

85
A VERY LARGE PAINTING OF HUNTSMEN
AND TANZI
Late Qing Dynasty
Ink and colour on silk, depicting in the foreground
a procession of soldiers carrying flags, muskets
and spears as well as dogs and commanders on
horseback returning from a hunting trip to a Palace
complex, across the river on the top right hunters
pursue deer, two huntsmen pause at Tanzi hiding
beneath a deerskin, while another battles two
tigers with his hands, all within a landscape with
mountains and trees.
648cm (255in) wide x 324.5cm (128in) high. (2).

£15,000 - 25,000
CNY130,000 - 220,000

清末 鹿乳奉親圖 設色絹本

The scene shows a hunting party discovering that
their quarry is not quite what they thought. The
cowering boy clad in a deerskin and carrying a pail
of milk is Tanzi, the seventh member of the Twenty-
Four Paragons of Filial Piety (a group of historical
children who went above and beyond in respect and
loyalty to their parents).

Tanzi’s father and mother both suffered from an
eye infection that was only soothed with deer’s
milk. To collect the balm Tanzi disguised himself
as a deer and mingled in amongst the local herd.
Unfortunately a group of hunters soon appeared and
almost killed the boy by mistake, only stopping the
chase when he revealed himself.

86 85
A LARGE PAINTING OF HERONS
AND FLOWERS
Signed Li Tang, cyclically dated to the Yihai year
corresponding to 1899 and of the period
Ink and colour on silk, depicting eight white herons,
one in flight, amidst a riverscape with various
flowers, on the top right corner a poetic inscription
with signature and seals of the artist.
246cm wide (96 7/8in) x 86cm (33 7/8in) high.
£20,000 - 30,000
CNY180,000 - 270,000
己亥年（1899年）李堂款 一路富貴 設色絹本

The egret is often compared to an honest and
incorruptible official because of its clean, white
feathers. Egrets have been admired by poets such
as Du Fu 杜甫 (712-770) and can combine with
numerous flowers to create various auspicious
meanings. In the present painting, egrets combine
with peonies. Egrets (lu 鷺) form the pun for ‘all the
way’ (yi lu 一路). Together with peonies, also known
as the flower of wealth and honour (fugui 富貴), they
create the rebus for ‘wealth and honour all the way’
(yilu fugui 一路富貴).

86

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
104 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.