Lot 1219
1219
LI KERAN (1907-1989)
LI KERAN (1907-1989)
LI KERAN (1907-1989)
10 More
LI KERAN (1907-1989)
13 More
PREVIOUSLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF BEOHAR RAMMANOHAR SINHA (LOTS 1217-1219)
LI KERAN (1907-1989)

Landscape Drafts

Details
LI KERAN (1907-1989)
Landscape Drafts
1. Sunset Glow in the Cloudy Mist
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper
2. Mount Huang
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
3. Tiger Hill in Suzhou
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
4. Landscape Sketches
A set of ten scrolls, mounted and framed, ink on paper
1. Sunset Glow in the Cloudy Mist
42.7 x 27.8 cm. (16 ¾ x 11 in.)

2. Mount Huang
42.6 x 31.6 cm. (16 ¾ x 12 ½ in.)

3. Tiger Hill in Suzhou
45.5 x 35.1 cm. (17 7⁄8 x 13 7⁄8 in.)

4. Landscape Sketches
Each leaf measures 22.5 x 16.8 cm. (8 7⁄8 x 6 5⁄8 in.)
(4)
Further Details
The famed Indian painter Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, who illuminated the original manuscript of Constitution of India and frescoed Martyr-Memorial Concert Hall, lived in different parts of China between 1957-59 as a scholar but also as India’s cultural emissary. The objective was to forge a robust cross-cultural bridge between two great civilisations through fine arts. While promoting Indian art in China, Rammanohar gained expertise and collected works in Chinese painting and lacquer-work from great contemporary masters firsthand, such as Qi Baishi (1864-1957) and his contemporaries and students, including Chen Banding (1877-1970), Wu Zuoren (1908-1997), Luo Ming (1912-1998), and Li Kuchan (1899-1983). Part of the collection of Li Kuchan paintings were sold at Christie’s in 2021 and 2023.

In 1957, Qi Baishi introduced Rammanohar to Li Keran after which they worked together for some time in the same studio in Beijing. When Rammanohar moved out of Beijing, several paintings were exchanged between him and Li Keran. Some of the works are visible in the accompanying photograph, including the work (Lot 1217) air-drying in the background. Some of Li Keran’s works in the collection were sold at Christie’s 2017 Fall auctions.

Brought to you by

Carmen Shek Cerne (石嘉雯)
Carmen Shek Cerne (石嘉雯) Vice President, Head of Department, Chinese Paintings
+852 2978 9981

Lot Essay

NOTE:
During the summer months of 1958, Li Keran and Rammanohar made several excursions to different parts of China to study and paint diverse landscapes, including mountain ranges, summits, valleys, streams, sailboats, bridges, pavilions and the wilderness. They were often accompanied by students, mentees, and guides, as evidenced in the photograph. Li Keran sketched not just in pencil but also sometimes in ink. As a memorabilia of their excursions together, Li Keran gifted some of his sketchbooks to Rammanohar in sets of 10 sheets. This lot is part of the set.

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