Lot 242H: 溥儒 钟馗图立轴 “Zhongkui evil deity”, attributed to Fu Ru (1896-1963), Chinese paper scroll painting

溥儒 钟馗图立轴 “Zhongkui evil deity”, attributed to Fu Ru (1896-1963), Chinese paper scroll painting Heart Size: 66 cm x 32 cm; Biography: Fu Ru is an Impressionist & Modern artist. Fu Ru's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from $180 USD to $23,308 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork. Since 2006 the record price for this artist at auction is $23,308 USD for Landscape, sold at Poly International Auction Co. in 2006. Zhong Kui (Chinese: 鍾馗; pinyin: Zhōng uí; Korean: 종규, romanized: Jonggyu; Japanese: 鍾馗, romanized: Shōki) is a deity in Chinese mythology, traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. He is universally depicted as a large man with a big black beard, bulging eyes and a wrathful expression. Zhong Kui is reputedly able to command 80,000 demons to do his bidding, and is often associated with the five bats of fortune. Worship and iconography of Zhong Kui later spread to other East Asian countries, and he can also be found in the folklores and mythologies of Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. In art, Zhong Kui is a frequent subject in paintings and crafts, and his image is often painted on household gates as a guardian spirit as well as in places of business where high-value goods are involved. He is also commonly portrayed in popular media.