Page 12 - September 20 2021 Chinese Works of Art Bonhams NYC

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF PATRICIA AND
PROFESSOR ROLAND WINSTON
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QI BAISHI (1862-1957) In this large format zhongtang composition, Qi Baishi creates a vibrant,
Loquats in a Basket celebratory painting. With an abundance of bright yellow loquats--
Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper, signed Baishi laoren, with one symbolizing wealth--the fruit overflows the large basket, exceeding
artist’s seal reading Qi Da. its capacity. The painting showcases the artist’s greatest strength,
35 3/4 x 17 7/8in (90.8 x 45.2cm) his ability to capture the essence of his subject with a minimum of
brushstrokes and color.
$60,000 - 90,000
Primarily just two colors, the vivid yellow and black ink create a strong
齊白石 枇杷 設色紙本 立軸 contrast. Although in this composition, Qi Baishi’s color choices are
restrained, his brushwork is skillful and varied, revealing his calligraphic
Provenance: training. The fruit stems and basket’s handle employ seal script
Far East Fine Arts, San Francisco, California, October 1995 technique, while the twine attaching the raised branch to the handle
Sotheby’s New York, Fine Chinese Paintings, 30 May 1990, lot 203 is quickly executed, evoking the spontaneity of running/cursive script.
Deftly applied ink washes and dots define the leaves and provide
Published: them with dimension, and the combination of graded washes and dry
Jung Ying Tsao, The Paintings of Xugu and Qi Baishi, San Francisco, brushwork on the basket’s bowl endow the painting with texture.
1993, catalog no. 18, pp. 309-311
The painting is signed simply Baishi Laoren (old man Baishi) with a
來源: single seal Qi Da. Both signature and seal are harmonious with the
舊金山遠東藝術畫廊，1995年10月 composition, the brushwork of the artist’s name compliments the
紐約蘇富比，1990年5月30日，拍品編號203 twine around the branch, and the seal echoes the structure of the
basket’s handle. There is neither a date nor an artist’s dedication, but
出版: given its celebratory, auspicious mood, it was likely painted to meet
曹仲英,《The Paintings of Xugu and Qi Baishi》, 舊金山, 1993年， the increasingly strong demand from an international audience during
圖錄編號18, 頁 309-311 the later 1940’s, when Qi Baishi held numerous successful exhibitions
of his work in Nanjing and Shanghai, in addition to selling his work
directly from his Beijing studio.

Qi Baishi created several similar scaled zhongtang compositions of
loquats. See another painting, formerly in the collection of Dr. K.S. Lo,
sold by Christies Hong Kong, 30 May 2017, lot 1506.

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