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Poems in Running Script
Details
DONG QICHANG (1555-1636)
Poems in Running Script
Album of twenty-two leaves, ink on paper
Each leaf measures 31.7 x 16.2 cm. (12 ½ x 6 3⁄8 in.)
Signed, with two seals of the artist
Five collector’s seals, including three of Wang Shimin (1592-1680)
Colophons and titleslip by Gong Xinzhao (1870-1949), dated jiaxu (1934), bingzi (1936), wuyin (1938) xinsi (1941) and yiyou year (1945), signed with a total of eight seals
Poems in Running Script
Album of twenty-two leaves, ink on paper
Each leaf measures 31.7 x 16.2 cm. (12 ½ x 6 3⁄8 in.)
Signed, with two seals of the artist
Five collector’s seals, including three of Wang Shimin (1592-1680)
Colophons and titleslip by Gong Xinzhao (1870-1949), dated jiaxu (1934), bingzi (1936), wuyin (1938) xinsi (1941) and yiyou year (1945), signed with a total of eight seals
Provenance
Gong Xinzhao (1870-1949) collection.
Lot 1153, 4 May 1995, Fine Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings, Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Lot 1153, 4 May 1995, Fine Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings, Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Further Details
Archaicism and Individuality - An Overview of Six Ming Calligraphers
Like poetry writing, Ming calligraphers celebrate classicism and archaic revival through studying model calligraphy of ancient masters without being copy slaves (as advocated by Li Yingzhen) while retaining one’s character. Such practice reverberates the core value of Ming philosophy to discover one’s inner thought.
Highlighted in this season are eight magnificent Ming calligraphic works, including three handscrolls - Cursive Script Calligraphy by Zhu Yunming (Lot 843), Poems in Cursive Script by Wen Zhengming (Lot 844) and Poems in Running-Cursive Script by Dong Qichang (Lot 846). A magnanimous man of free spirit, Zhu Yunming’s grandfather Xu Youzhen and father-in-law Li Yingzhen were renowned calligraphers. Zhu’s talents and prestigious upbringing enabled him to triumph in cursive script calligraphy. Executed in bold and courageous manner, the drastic turns and liberating strokes provoke a sense of wildness and divinity in Lot 843. Wen Zhengming studied calligraphy under Li Yingzhen. Earnest and diligent, Wen was a versatile artist who seldom wrote in cursive script. Lot 844 shows a subtle elegance that summoned the spirit of a nobleman. Dong Qichang pursued painting and calligraphy all his life whose styles were influenced by the Tang and Jin masters. Brilliant at maneuvering the fluidity and variations of the ink, Dong’s brushwork displays a captivating demeanor amidst harmony and power.
Four more works are Dong Qichang’s album of Poems in Running Script (Lot 845), Chen Yuan’s Correspondence (Lot 847), Zhang Ruitu’s Calligraphy in Cursive Script (Lot 848), and Ni Yuanlu’s Five-Character Poem in Cursive Script (Lot 849). Written on precious Xuande paper, Dong’s meticulous transitioning of brushwork can be observed in Lot 845, which was once in the collection of Gong Xinzhao. A Confucian scholar of the Wu school, Chen Wan mastered an austere style neatly order and Lot 847 was written to Wu Kuan, a senior Ming official and imperial teacher. Zhang Ruitu was an accomplished calligrapher and painter whose calligraphy mostly appeared in running-cursive script. His iconic curvilinear and twisting brushwork vary substantially from the ancient masters. Crowned as one of the Three Giant Calligraphers in late Ming dynasty, Ni Yuanlu was known for his eccentric and whimsical style against banality, which reflected his character.
Ming calligraphy is distinguished by a tremendous degree of individualism. These seven works demonstrate the unique styles of the six calligraphers while revealing their integrity and temperament.
Like poetry writing, Ming calligraphers celebrate classicism and archaic revival through studying model calligraphy of ancient masters without being copy slaves (as advocated by Li Yingzhen) while retaining one’s character. Such practice reverberates the core value of Ming philosophy to discover one’s inner thought.
Highlighted in this season are eight magnificent Ming calligraphic works, including three handscrolls - Cursive Script Calligraphy by Zhu Yunming (Lot 843), Poems in Cursive Script by Wen Zhengming (Lot 844) and Poems in Running-Cursive Script by Dong Qichang (Lot 846). A magnanimous man of free spirit, Zhu Yunming’s grandfather Xu Youzhen and father-in-law Li Yingzhen were renowned calligraphers. Zhu’s talents and prestigious upbringing enabled him to triumph in cursive script calligraphy. Executed in bold and courageous manner, the drastic turns and liberating strokes provoke a sense of wildness and divinity in Lot 843. Wen Zhengming studied calligraphy under Li Yingzhen. Earnest and diligent, Wen was a versatile artist who seldom wrote in cursive script. Lot 844 shows a subtle elegance that summoned the spirit of a nobleman. Dong Qichang pursued painting and calligraphy all his life whose styles were influenced by the Tang and Jin masters. Brilliant at maneuvering the fluidity and variations of the ink, Dong’s brushwork displays a captivating demeanor amidst harmony and power.
Four more works are Dong Qichang’s album of Poems in Running Script (Lot 845), Chen Yuan’s Correspondence (Lot 847), Zhang Ruitu’s Calligraphy in Cursive Script (Lot 848), and Ni Yuanlu’s Five-Character Poem in Cursive Script (Lot 849). Written on precious Xuande paper, Dong’s meticulous transitioning of brushwork can be observed in Lot 845, which was once in the collection of Gong Xinzhao. A Confucian scholar of the Wu school, Chen Wan mastered an austere style neatly order and Lot 847 was written to Wu Kuan, a senior Ming official and imperial teacher. Zhang Ruitu was an accomplished calligrapher and painter whose calligraphy mostly appeared in running-cursive script. His iconic curvilinear and twisting brushwork vary substantially from the ancient masters. Crowned as one of the Three Giant Calligraphers in late Ming dynasty, Ni Yuanlu was known for his eccentric and whimsical style against banality, which reflected his character.
Ming calligraphy is distinguished by a tremendous degree of individualism. These seven works demonstrate the unique styles of the six calligraphers while revealing their integrity and temperament.