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FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF HUANG MENGGUI AND HUANG MANSHIHuang Manshi (1890-1963) and his younger brother, Huang Menggui (1885-1965), were two influential people in Xu Beihong’s life, particularly in Southeast Asia where Xu Beihong created many iconic paintings. As General Manager of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco, Huang Manshi became acquainted with many powerful figures through his work. He spoke a number of languages and loved to collect works of calligraphy and antiques. Huang Manshi invited Xu Beihong to Singapore and introduced him to many influential Chinese tycoons in Southeast Asia, such as Chen Jiageng. Upon Huang Menggui’s letter of invitation, Xu Beihong came to Singapore from Paris in the autumn of 1925, one of the many trips he would take to the region which solidified his status as an artist.Huang Menggui reserved a small living room for Xu Beihong as a studio at his own house where he also provided accommodation for Xu during his stay in Singapore. It was in Huang’s house that Xu Beihong’s numerous ink paintings of fine horses and other important works were born. With the help of Huang Menggui, Xu Beihong became an important icon in Asian art history. Xu saw the Huang brothers as “the most intimate friends in life”, calling them “big brother” and “second brother” respectively. After the brothers’ deaths, their collection was passed to family as well as to several prominent collectors in Southeast Asia. Christie’s was honored to have auctioned the Important Collection of Paintings from the Huang Family on 28 May 2007 (Lots 1121-1155, Fine Chinese Modern Paintings, Christie’s Hong Kong), as well as a distinguished painting by Xu Beihong during our 2014 autumn sale (Lot 1639).
XU BEIHONG (1895-1953)
Letter to Huang Menggui
细节
XU BEIHONG (1895-1953)
Letter to Huang Menggui
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
25 x 44 cm. (9 7/8 x 17 3/8 in.)
Inscribed and signed by the artist
One collector’s seal
Letter to Huang Menggui
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
25 x 44 cm. (9 7/8 x 17 3/8 in.)
Inscribed and signed by the artist
One collector’s seal
荣誉呈献
Ben Kong