Lot 3: CHINESE CABBAGE

QIAN YI (968-1026) CHINESE CABBAGE Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper Inscribed and signed by the artist, with one seal Dated fifth month, first year of the Qianxing era (1022) One inscription by Yuwen Gongliang (active 1330-1350), with two seals Colophons on the mounting by Han Rongguang (1793-1860), one dated mid-spring, guisi year of the Daoguang era (1833), with three seals and the second dated winter of the same year, with three seals Titleslip by Zhou Chu (Zhou Qishan, Ming dynasty) Thirteen collectors' seals, including two of Zhu Zhichi (c. 1600-1660), one of Gao Shiqi (1645-1704), one of Cai Xiu (17th century), two of Pan Zhengwei (1791-1850), and five of Kong Guangtao (1832-1890) 28 7/8 x 19 in. (96 x 48.5 cm.)

96 x 48.5 cm.

17th century

Kong Guangtao, Yuexuelou Shuhualu (A Record of Paintings and Calligraphy in the Yuexuelou Collection), vol. 2, preface dated 1861, p. 19 Yishu Congbian (Collected Works on Chinese Art), vol. 2, Shanghai, 1906 Osvald Siren, Chinese Painting: Leading Masters and Principles, Annotated List of Paintings, volume 2, New York, 1973, p. 46

Lot 3, 31 May 1990, Important Classical Chinese Paintings, Christie's New York.

Qian Yi was a son of the quickly-deposed king of Wuyue (907-978), Qian Hongzong (929-973, r. 947), who lost the throne to his step-brother, Qian Hongchu, following a coup d'etat. Their uncle's reign did not last long, as he surrendered the kingdom to the rapidly-solidifying Northern Song dynasty in 978; nevertheless, the royal family enjoyed an elevated status in Song society, and it is in this context that Qian Yi and his brother Qian Kun were raised. Qian Yi completed the jinshi examination and became a member of the Hanlin Academy in 1025, only to die the next year after working continuously for several days without rest. As an artist, he was known for his running and cursive scripts, especially those on large banners several meters in length, as well as for his paintings. In addition to being a skilled painter and calligrapher, he was also a prolific poet and writer. Yuwen Gongliang became a jinshi official in 1333, the first year of the Yuan dynasty. He composed many books of poetry and was a talented artist. In 1346, he painted Qiutian Shanju Tu, a mountain landscape. Zhou Chu, also known as Zhou Qishan, was a native of Wujin (present day Changzhou in Jiangsu province) during the Ming dynasty. He was a landscape painter who was particularly adept at painting dragons and bovines.