2715
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
A native of Liaoning, Wang Shuchang was chosen by the Viceroy of Three Northeast Provinces, Xu Shichang, to study at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. By chance he met Chiang Kai-shek and Chang Ch'un during his voyage to Japan. Upon graduating in 1910 he returned to China and took part in the Xinhai revolution. In 1915 he was once again selected by the First President of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai, to take part in military training in Japan and did not return until 1919. From 1921 onwards Wang played a significant role in the North-Eastern Army in the Huanggutun Incident of 1928-Zhang Zuolin was bombed to death and Zhang Xueliang was recruited as acting commander in chief and operational commander for the army, leading armies from 1930 onwards and taking the position Chairman of Hebei province. In 1930 Wang often led armies into revolt. Having fought and travelled all over China, including Henan, Wuhan and Hong Kong, Wong finally settled in Bejing in 1949.
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

Longevity

细节
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Longevity
Inscribed with a poem and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated fourth month, jiaxu year (1934)
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
125 x 65.5 cm. (49 1/4 x 25 3/4 in.)
20th Century
1

拍品专文

In the 1930's, General Wang Shuchang, governor of Hebei province and garrison commander of Beijing and Tianjin, invited two promising young artists - Zhang Daqian and Pu Ru (Pu Xinyu) - to come to Beijing. He hoped that the serene environment of the Summer Palace and the beautiful surroundings of Beijing would inspire these two aspiring artists to create a new style of Chinese art. A respected calligrapher himself, General Wang was a true patron of the arts. During Pu Ru's time in Beijing, General Wang studied Chinese painting under Pu Ru and collaborated with him on several works of calligraphy and painting.
It was General Wang's generous invitation that brought together two of China's most prodigious twentieth-century artists to collaborate on art. During their time together in Beijing, Zhang Daqian and Pu Ru struck many as an unlikely pair: Zhang was a native of Sichuan province who had studied in Japan and Shanghai, while Pu was a Beijing native and a member of the Manchu imperial family. Nevertheless, the two found common ground in their appreciation of art; they became good friends who would produce together some of China's most famous twentieth century artwork. The epithet, "South Zhang, North Pu," denotes the collaborative works of art that Zhang Daqian and Pu Ru created during the 1930s. In fact, in the 1990s Taipei Palace museum hosted a large "South Zhang, North Pu," exhibition to display their masterpieces. The event was a huge sensation!
In 1934, during his time at the Summer Palace, Zhang Daqian painted a beautiful work of art in honour of the seventieth birthday of General Wang's mother. The painting was a token of his appreciation for Wang's gracious hospitality. Before he passed away in 1960, General Wang passed this stunning creation down to his son. Today, his son cherishes this piece of art for not only its historical value, but more significantly, for its sentimental value.