Lot 237: ca 1570 MING, WEN BOREN LANDSCAPE SCROLL PAINTING

16th C. Ming Dynasty, Wen BoRen (文伯仁; 1502-1575) Chinese traditional scroll painting, ink on paper laid to silk, hanging scroll. Signed and dated, in the Geng Wu year (ca. 1570) of Longqing emperor reign period (1567-1572). Highly skilled Landscape painting of arduous mountain pass leading to a two-tiered pagoda, by Wen BoRen (1502-1575). Wen BoRen was an established landscape painter during the Ming Dynasty. Wen’s painting can be compared artists such as Wang Meng and Zhao Mengfu. Sweeping eaves create the traditional Chinese Pagoda roofline, toped with a gilt finial and raised upon a solid base. This Daoist place of worship is lofted by the mountain heavenward. In the foreground a single female figure dressed in a red garment makes here way through the demanding terrain. Gnarled roots latch onto the solid ground and covers much of the mountainside. This painting adheres to the Gongbi technique which strives for a more realistic appearance. An array of semi-cursive calligraphy is found in the top left space followed by two red seals.

Scroll Height: 100 3/4" Width: 22 7/8" Painting Height: 61 7/8" Width: 15 1/8"

ink, watercolor, paper

Ming Dynasty

Natural imperfection on the medium (paper or silk), regardless from any major damages; includes light blooms, discoloration and minor fading. Consider normal due to the ages. All lots are sold as is and where is. Lauren Galleries provides condition reports upon request to aide in your bidding decision. No statement regarding age, condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalog or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. All sales are final, Lauren Galleries does not give refunds based on condition. Lauren Galleries does not perform any shipping or packing services. We do have a list of suggested shippers who gladly provide quotes prior to your bidding. Please visit our webpage for a list of recommended shippers.

From the heirloom collections of Wu Guozhen (吳國楨; October 21, 1903-June 6, 1984) was a Chinese political figure and historian, government official who served as mayor of Hankow (1932-1938), mayor of Chung-king (1939-1941), political vice minister of foreign affairs (1943-45), mayor of Shanghai (1946-1948), and governor of Taiwan (1950-1952) and the former Chairman of Taiwan Provincial Government. He resigned in 1953 and went to the United States, charging that Taiwan was becoming a police state.
K.C. Wu lived in the United States where he served as professor of Chinese history at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. During his time in the United States, he wrote various works, including a detailed analysis on Chinese culture in the context of mythology and early history in his book The Chinese Heritage.
Wu is remembered mainly for his vital role in the formation of a liberal modern Taiwan and his anti-communist beliefs typical of a member of Kuomintang, but he is also remembered for his brave anti-Kuomintang rhetoric and turbulent disagreements with the more Russian-styled second President of Taiwan.

The Collections of Wu Guozhen (吳國楨) presented and offered up to auctions
ON DAY-1: from Lot-97 through Lot-127, continued from Lot-219 through Lot-255.
ON DAY-2: from Lot-354 through Lot-377, continued from Lot-451 through Lot-480.

Wen Boren (文伯仁; 1502-1575) was a Chinese landscape painter during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Wen was born in Changzhou (present day Wuxian of Jiangsu province). His style name was De Cheng (德承) and his pseudonyms were Wu Feng (五峰), Bao Sheng (葆生), and She Sheng Lao Nong (摄山老农). He typically painted landscapes of rounding ranges of hills with free atmosphere. His style is similar to Zhao Mengfu and Wang Meng.