Lot 344: DONG GAO (1740-1818)

DONG GAO (1740-1818)
Scenic Sites of West Lake
Set of four albums, the first and fourth with ten double leaves and the second and third with twelve double leaves each, for a total of 44 paintings; ink and color on silk
Each leaf: 4 7/8 x 3¾ in. (12.4 x 9.6 cm.)
Each album consists of paintings of scenic locales in Zhejiang province, each opposite an inscription with historical information in standard script calligraphy
First album with a frontispiece by the artist, signed and with two seals
Fourth album with two colophons by eminent scholar-officials of the period, one each by Xu Zujing (1732-1805), with two seals; by Ruan Yuan (1764-1849), with two seals (4)

The Estate of C.T. Loo; Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 10- 11 October 1962, lot 409.

Dong Gao, who was the son of Dong Bangda (1699-1769) and took his jinshi degree in 1763, was a noted and high-ranking government official, who served Emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing for more than four decades. He held numerous illustrious posts and supervised the compilation of several imperial histories and anthologies. The emperors also prized Dong Gao's calligraphy and paintings, many of which were included in the palace collection.