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FROM AN IMPORTANT HONG KONG PRIVATE COLLECTION (LOT 1150)
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Lady
Details
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Lady
Scroll, mounted on cardboard and framed, ink and colour on paper
27 x 24 cm. (10 5⁄8 x 9 ½ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with three seals of the artist
Dedicated to Daolu (Tsui Tao-lu)
Lady
Scroll, mounted on cardboard and framed, ink and colour on paper
27 x 24 cm. (10 5⁄8 x 9 ½ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with three seals of the artist
Dedicated to Daolu (Tsui Tao-lu)
Provenance
Christie's Hong Kong, Fine Chinese Modern Paintings, 26 May 2014, Lot 1233.
Further Details
This painting is dedicated to Tsui Tao-Lu (1918-2002). Tsui Tao Lu was a native of Dongtai, Jiangsu Province. He graduated from the Department of Law at National Southwestern Associated University in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Tsui entered Peking University in 1943 as a research assistant, where he wrote his dissertation on the legal system from the Sui and Tang Dynasties under the supervision of renowned legal scholar Yan Shutang (1891-1984). In 1946, Tsui was among the 148 students awarded scholarship by the Chinese government to study abroad. With the funding, Tsui went to study law at the University of Rome and earned the Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1952. The next year, Tsui studied international law at Columbia University, New York under the tutelage of Dr. Philip C. Jessup, and received his master’s degree in 1958. Tsui moved to Miami, Florida in 1974 where he worked in the local jurisdiction system for over twenty years.
In 1955, while residing in Italy, Tsui Tao-Lu collaborated with esteemed sinologist Professor Lionello Lanciotti (1925-2015) to translate and publish the Italian version of the renowned Chinese literary work Six Records of a Floating Life (Fusheng Liuji) by Shen Fu (titled Shên-Fu. Sei racconti di vita irreale in Italian). Originally passed down through the oral tradition, the autobiography from the Qing dynasty was first published in 1878 in a Shanghai newspaper. It recounts the life of Shen Fu and his enchanting wife, Chen Yun. This book is one of the earliest Italian translations of Chinese literature from the Qing Dynasty, making it accessible to the general public.
To commemorate Tsui’s significant achievement and contribution, Zhang Daqian specifically painted an exquisite female portrait, possibly of Chen Yun from the Six Records. Zhang Daqian inscribed the painting with the words, “I created this to commemorate Brother Daolu completing the translation of Six Records of a Floating Life,” marking this special occasion. Although the painting is undated, Zhang Daqian likely painted it in the early 1950s. The delicate brushwork, meticulous detailing, and precise application of luminous and luxurious pigments on the lady’s face and attire indicate that this creation represents the pinnacle of Zhang Daqian’s fine brush genre. Despite its modest size, this magnificent painting radiates a profound beauty and flawless perfection that expresses the artist’s deep respect and friendship towards Tsui Tao-Lu.
In 1955, while residing in Italy, Tsui Tao-Lu collaborated with esteemed sinologist Professor Lionello Lanciotti (1925-2015) to translate and publish the Italian version of the renowned Chinese literary work Six Records of a Floating Life (Fusheng Liuji) by Shen Fu (titled Shên-Fu. Sei racconti di vita irreale in Italian). Originally passed down through the oral tradition, the autobiography from the Qing dynasty was first published in 1878 in a Shanghai newspaper. It recounts the life of Shen Fu and his enchanting wife, Chen Yun. This book is one of the earliest Italian translations of Chinese literature from the Qing Dynasty, making it accessible to the general public.
To commemorate Tsui’s significant achievement and contribution, Zhang Daqian specifically painted an exquisite female portrait, possibly of Chen Yun from the Six Records. Zhang Daqian inscribed the painting with the words, “I created this to commemorate Brother Daolu completing the translation of Six Records of a Floating Life,” marking this special occasion. Although the painting is undated, Zhang Daqian likely painted it in the early 1950s. The delicate brushwork, meticulous detailing, and precise application of luminous and luxurious pigments on the lady’s face and attire indicate that this creation represents the pinnacle of Zhang Daqian’s fine brush genre. Despite its modest size, this magnificent painting radiates a profound beauty and flawless perfection that expresses the artist’s deep respect and friendship towards Tsui Tao-Lu.
Brought to you by
Carmen Shek Cerne (石嘉雯)
Vice President, Head of Department, Chinese Paintings