FROM AN IMPORTANT OVERSEAS CHINESE COLLECTION (LOTS 1442-1451)This selection of rare and important works by Zhang Daqian come from passionate collectors who, over the course of more than 30 years, sought to select exceptional works of each subject matter by the artist, whilst covering his whole artistic period, from early gongbi works to late splashed-ink compositions, calligraphic pieces to figures, lotus and landscapes. Notably, Imitating Birds and Bamboo by Emperor Hui-tsun, and Lofty Scholar by Lush Trees were featured in the National Museum of History’s publication The Paintings and Calligraphy of Chang Dai-chien, as well as Fu Shen’s prominent The World of Chang Dai-chien, together with Strolling Alone in Autumn Hills and Lofty Scholars Boating. As a reflection of their rarity and importance, Fu Shen also wrote a letter of authenticity for five of these works, including a commentary describing in detail the allure of each piece.

ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

Meditation in Autumn

Details

ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Meditation in Autumn
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
90.3 x 41.3 cm. (35 ½ x 16 ¼ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated second month, jichou year (1949)
Dedicated to Defen

Literature

Han Mo, Zhang Daqian/Scholar, Han Mo Xuan Publishing Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, June 1994, p. 46-47.

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Lot Essay

The painting comes with a copy of a handwritten letter of authenticity by Fu Shen.
“Brother Defen”, the inscribed recipient of the painting, is most likely Zheng Defen, the former CEO of Hong Kong’s Kung Sheung Daily News. Mr Zheng was a committed collector of painting and calligraphy, with close relationships to major artists of the period. Zhang Daqian, Huang Binhong, and Deng Erya all dedicated works to him. In 1940 Zeng contributed to and helped organise two major exhibitions held in Hong Kong: The Exhibition of Guandong Antiquities, and The Exhibition of Classical Chinese Antiquities. Zhang Daqian also gave Zheng’s studio the name: “Studio of Superfluous Learning (Yuxue Zhai)”. Zhang spent a brief period in Hong Kong, from December 1948 to March 1949. Meditation in Autumn was acquired during this period.

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