Ming Dynasty or earlier Ink and pigment on silk depicting two sparrows perched on stalks of rice, with five collector's seals, mounted on a silk album leaf, a title slip attached to the mount reading Song ren gufeng qinle ('Abundant grain and joyful birds by a person of the Song dynasty'). The painting 19.5cm (7 3/4in) x 28.2cm (11 1/8in) long.
The album leaf bears the impressions of five collectors' seals, providing insight into its provenance and collecting history. The seal Xiang Molin fu miji zhi yin (項墨林父秘笈之印) refers to Xiang Yuanbian (項元汴 1525-1590), also known as Xiang Zijing (項子京) and Xiang Molin (項墨林), was a native of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. He was a renowned collector and connoisseur of paintings and calligraphy of the Ming dynasty.
The seal Nanhai Wushi Nanxue zhai miji yin (南海伍氏南雪齋秘笈印) refers to Wu Yuanhui (伍元蕙 1824-1865) whose courtesy name is Nanxue daoren. He was a native of Nanhai (present-day Foshan, Guangdong). During the Daoguang and Xianfeng reigns of the Qing dynasty, he was granted the title of Juren by Imperial decree and later appointed as a Director of the Ministry of Justice (Xingbu langzhong 刑部郎中). Wu Yuanhui was best known for his collection of calligraphic rubbings, compiled in the twelve-volume work Treasured Calligraphy Collection of the Nanxue Studio (南雪齋藏真貼).
The seal yungu (云谷) refers to Ye Menglong (葉夢龍 1775-1832), a native of Nanhai (present-day Nanhai, Guangdong province), with the courtesy name of Yungu. He was a renowned Qing dynasty painter and bibliophile. Proficient in painting, he was particularly esteemed for his depictions of orchids and bamboo. He served as the Director of the Ministry of Revenue 戶部郎中 Hubu langzhong. His father, Ye Jianxun (葉建熏), was a collector of books and paintings, amassing an extensive collection.
The seal zhetian cengcang shizhe baozhi (蔗田曾藏識者寶之) refers to Ye Mengcao (葉夢草, Qing dynasty) whose courtesy name is Zhetian. He was a native of Nanhai, Guangdong and the younger cousin of Ye Menglong. Renowned for his literary and artistic talents, he excelled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, demonstrating mastery in landscapes, floral and fruit compositions, as well as figure painting.
The seal fahua baoji (法華寶笈) refers to Ren Zhenting (任振庭). He was a native of Tianjin, used the studio name 'Pavilion of Weary Reflections' (倦懷閣) (Juanhuai Ge). He was a collector during the late Qing and Republican periods, amassing an extensive collection, with pieces occasionally appearing on the market.
See an album leaf of similar format, bearing three identical seals, Yuan dynasty or later, which was sold at Christie's Paris, 10 December 2020, lot 156. Compare also with a related fan leaf, ink and colour on silk with a bird and flower, 14th/17th century, also with the seal of Ren Zhenting, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 30 November 2020, lot 801.
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