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The Feng Wen Tang Collection of Chinese Paintings
Among Qi Baishi's friends, Chen Shizeng and Hu Peiheng gave the greatest support for his landscape works. Having immense admiration for Jieshan Tu (Paintings of Borrowed Mountains), an album Qi finished when he was around 40, Chen said to Hu: "Jieshan Tu is so innovative that no average painter could have created it. It is a pity that the ordinary people don't understand. We should help this old peasant by raising awareness of his paintings."
Hu, acquired many landscapes by Qi. He wrote Qi Baishi's Huafa Yu Xinshang (An Appreciation of Qi Baishi's Painting), recording the artist's life and techniques, which became the best reference for later generations to rely on in order to study the artist's creations.
According to Hu's records, Qi painted Old Home (Lot 1253) at the age of 61. The painter said: "My old house is situated 100 miles south of Xiangtan county, at the foot of Baishi Mountain, which inspired the creation of my art-name, Baishi." The mountain is depicted in the upper-right section of the painting; in the lower section is the old house where Qi lived, studied and painted until he was 50 years old.
Towering over the house are several gigantic cypress trees, which the artist painted by using the sides of his brush, as vigorous as the rocks and mountains that he paints with the brush tip.Studying the brushwork carefully one can discern that Qi was influenced by his favorite painter, Shitao (1642-1707): "I have been painting landscapes for more than 20 years and dislike ordinary works. Two painters living before the Qing dynasty, Xu Wei and Shitao, won my admiration because of their creativity." The style in Twisted Pine Trees in Drizzles by Shitao (see reference image 1) reflects the former artist's influence on Qi Baishi in creating Old Home. Another painting with similar composition created in 1922 and dedicated to another good friend of Qi, was sold in Christie's Spring Auction in 1994 (see reference image 2). Qi refused to rigidly follow ancient guidelines on landscape paintings, creating unique pieces that were very different to accepted norms of landscape paintings at the time. Hence, what he received from his contemporaries was criticism instead of praise. Consequently, he chose to focus on figure and bird-and-flower paintings after moving to Beijing at the age of 57 in 1919. Although the artist rarely painted landscapes for outsiders, he gifted many to friends. Old Home and Returning Home (Lot 1255), created in 1938, were all dedicated to Hu Peiheng (1892-1965), an intimate art dealer-cum-friend, reflecting the immense value Qi placed on him.
QI BAISHI (1863-1957)
Returning Home
Details
QI BAISHI (1863-1957)
Returning Home
Entitled, inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated fourth month, wuyin year (1938)
Dedicated to Leng'an
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper
22.4 x 98 cm. (8 7/8 x 38 1/2 in.)
20th Century
Returning Home
Entitled, inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated fourth month, wuyin year (1938)
Dedicated to Leng'an
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper
22.4 x 98 cm. (8 7/8 x 38 1/2 in.)
20th Century
Literature
Exhibition catalogue of Paintings and Calligraphy by Qi Baishi - The Feng Wen Tang Collection, Christie's Hong Kong, 2013, pp.104-105, pl.36.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, Culture and Art Publishing House, Beijing, April 2011, p.145, pl.116.
Baishi Liu Yun - Collection of Paintings by Qi Baishi, Volume I, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, February 2008, pp.216-217, pl.95.
Catalogue of Qi Baishi's Paintings, Volume II, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, July 2006, pp.280-281.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, February 1992, pl.105.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, Nan Tong Book Co., Hong Kong, March 1974, pl.115.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, 1959, pl.115.
The Commemorative Catalogue of the Posthumous Works of Qi Baishi, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, December 1957, p.35, no.278.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, Culture and Art Publishing House, Beijing, April 2011, p.145, pl.116.
Baishi Liu Yun - Collection of Paintings by Qi Baishi, Volume I, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, February 2008, pp.216-217, pl.95.
Catalogue of Qi Baishi's Paintings, Volume II, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, July 2006, pp.280-281.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, February 1992, pl.105.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, Nan Tong Book Co., Hong Kong, March 1974, pl.115.
Hu Peiheng & Hu Tuo, Qi Baishi - Painting Techniques and Appreciation, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, 1959, pl.115.
The Commemorative Catalogue of the Posthumous Works of Qi Baishi, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, December 1957, p.35, no.278.
Exhibited
Beijing, The Imperial Club, Christie's Art Space, Paintings and Calligraphy by Qi Baishi - The Feng Wen Tang Collection, 1-19 April 2014.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Paintings and Calligraphy by Qi Baishi - The Feng Wen Tang Collection, Christie's Hong Kong, 21-25 November 2013.
Beijing, The Soviet Union Exhibition Hall (Beijing Exhibition Center), The Posthumous Works of Qi Baishi, 1-20 January 1958, no. 278.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Paintings and Calligraphy by Qi Baishi - The Feng Wen Tang Collection, Christie's Hong Kong, 21-25 November 2013.
Beijing, The Soviet Union Exhibition Hall (Beijing Exhibition Center), The Posthumous Works of Qi Baishi, 1-20 January 1958, no. 278.
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