ZHANG LING (MING DYNASTY)
Exchanging a White Goose for CalligraphyMounted for framing, ink and color on paper, with two artist's seals and four collector's seals, mounted with a titleslip with a collector's seal of Huang Wengen (1895-1984).26 x 10 3/4in (65.7 x 27cm)
Provenance:Collection of Huang Wengen (1895-1984)Collection of Wang Fangyu (1913-1997)Zhang Ling, style name Mengjin, was a native of Suzhou. He was born during the Chenghua reign (1465-1487) and died in the early years of the Zhengde reign (1506-1521). He studied painting and calligraphy under Zhu Yunming (1461-1527) and was a childhood friend of Tang Yin (1470-1524). He was described as "naturally sociable and chivalrous in temperament," and "when drunk, would give himself over to wine and behave with wild abandon." Judging from the surviving records of his life, Zhang Ling may have been born a year or two after Tang Yin (1470–1523). Xu Zhenqing (1479-1511)'s Xin Qian Ji contains a poem mourning Zhang's death; since Xu himself died in 1511, when Tang Yin was forty-two, Zhang could have been no more than around forty when he died, a regrettably early end to a gifted life.Surviving works by Zhang Ling are exceedingly rare, with only a handful presently known in public collections, including the baimiao handscroll Zhao Xian Tu (Summoning the Immortal), the ink hanging scroll Yu Le Tu (The Pleasures of Fishing), and the 1051-dated hanging scroll Qiulin Gaoshi Tu (Scholar in an Autumn Grove), in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, as well as the portrait Zhinü Tu (The Weaver Maiden) in the Shanghai Museum. The present lot illustrates the celebrated story of Wang Xizhi (303-361), whose fondness for geese led him to transcribe the "Huangting jing" (Scripture of the Yellow Court) in exchange for a flock of white geese raised by a Daoist priest at Shanyin. Here, the "Sage of Calligraphy" wears a broad smile and appears entirely at ease as he unfurls the paper and dips his brush into the inkstone, while the Daoist stands nearby with his hands clasped behind his back, watching intently in breathless anticipation. The scholar's studio is furnished with refined simplicity. The lacquered table, chair and stools are characteristic of Ming-style furniture, while the scholar's implements and accoutrements, including the brush, ink, paper and inkstone, books, a ruyi scepter, incense burners, and a flower vase, are casually arranged across the tables. Delicately colored and rendered with considerable attention to detail, the setting may well represent the artist's ideal vision of a literati studio.Beyond the studio, distant mountains, pines, cypresses, plantains, bamboo, and scholarly setting in another interior space are all depicted with meticulous care. The brushwork is restrained and elegant, and the coloring fresh and muted, firmly rooted in the orthodox tradition of the Wu School. These qualities accord closely with Wang Zhideng (1535-1612)'s description in the Wujun Danqing Zhi (Records of Painters in Suzhou): "In Zhang Ling's figure paintings, the headdresses and garments possess an archaic character, while the forms and coloring are pure and authentic, entirely free of vulgarity. He occasionally painted landscapes as well. Although he had not acquired his skill through prolonged practice, his brush was lively and his ink vigorous, standing distinctly apart from the commonplace; much in his work is worthy of admiration." Although the present painting bears no signature and is marked only by two seals, it subsequently passed through the distinguished collections of Huang Wengen (1895-1984) and Wang Fangyu (1913-1997). It may therefore offer valuable new material for further consideration of Zhang Ling's artistic achievement.Huang Wengen, also named Huang Wen, was a native of Qingyuan, Guangdong Province. He was a friend of Zhu Ruzhen (1870-1943), and in 1939, Huang became the first director of the Qingyuan Civilian Hospital. His collector's Huai Xuan Tang in the lower left corner of the silk mount represents his studio name. The name derived from Huang's ownership of Shen Zhou (1427-1509)'s Huai Xuan Tu, an ink handscroll of dailily, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong on 26 November 2007, lot number 851, and most recently appeared at auction at Beijing Zhonghongxin on 15 July 2021, lot number 1215. It bears the same Huai Xuan Tang and Yi Shi Zhai collector's seals from Huang Wengen found on the present painting. An important collector during the Republican period, he assembled a notable collection of Ming and Qing paintings and calligraphy, fine examples of which continue to appear on the market.Born in Beijing, Wang Fangyu graduated from the Department of Education at Fu Jen Catholic University in 1936. He traveled to the United States for further study in 1944 and received his master's degree from Columbia University, subsequently teaching at Yale University and Seton Hall University. Wang was internationally recognized as a preeminent authority on Bada Shanren (1626-1705) and one of the artist's most important collectors. His publications include Master of the Lotus Garden: The Life and Art of Bada Shanren (1626–1705), co-authored with Richard Barnhart, and the bilingual (Chinese/English) of Ch'i Pai-shih's Paintings, co-authored with Hsu Kai-yu (1922-1982), both of which have become essential references for scholars and enthusiasts of Chinese painting.張靈 白鵝換經圖 設色紙本 鏡心 明代鈐印:張靈、夢晉藏印:(黄)懷萱堂、揖石齋、阿曼陀室順德阿蒙所藏書畫印題簽:明張夢晉〈白鵝換經圖〉鈐印:(黃)黃氏懷萱堂藏來源:黃文根(1895-1984)「懷萱堂」舊藏王方宇(1913-1997)舊藏張靈,字夢晉,蘇州人,生於成化年間(1465-1487),約卒於正德(1506-1521)年初。曾執經於祝允明門下,與唐寅為總角之交。徐禎卿《新倩籍》、王穉登《吳郡丹青誌》等記張靈生性「好交遊為俠,醉則使酒作狂」, 他與六如相鄰而居,「氣志雅合,茂才相敵,又俱善畫,以故契深椒蘭。」考其行跡,張靈生年可能晚於唐寅(1470-1523)一兩歲,徐禎卿《新倩籍》有弔張靈詩文,徐氏卒於正統辛未十一年(1511),時唐寅四十二歲,則張靈卒時不過不惑之年,令人扼腕。張靈傳世作品極罕,王穉登說他「雖瓊枝早折,然一鱗一角,要足為珍」。目前公藏僅有北京故宮〈招仙圖卷〉、〈漁樂圖〉軸、作於弘治十四年(1501)的〈秋林高士圖〉軸及上海博物館〈織女圖〉等數件而已,清末民初《古緣萃錄》及《神州大觀》中,錄〈赤壁後遊圖〉與〈松下安坐圖〉,兩幅皆作於嘉靖十年(1531),與其卒年相去甚遠,或為偽作。本幅〈白鵝換經圖〉描繪愛鵝成癖的王羲之, 寫〈黃庭經〉以換取山陰道士所養白鵝的故事。畫中「書聖」滿面含笑,神態悠容,正欲伸紙揮毫,道士負手一旁屏息凝視。書齋佈置清雅,髹漆桌墩、圓墩俱為典型明式,筆墨紙硯、書冊如意、香爐花樽等各樣文房清翫散置案頭,淡色描染,頗為寫實,應為畫家理想中文人書房之陳設。屋外近石遠山、松柏蕉竹、屋宇圍欄,處處描摹精微,筆墨淡雅,線條舒緩,敷色清麗,秉承吳門正脈,與《吳郡丹青誌》所記亦相吻合:「靈畫人物,冠服玄古,形色清真,無卑庸之氣。山水間作,雖不由閒習,而筆生墨勁,斬然絕塵,多可尚者。」本幅雖無款署,僅鈐印兩方,然先後經黃文根、王方宇兩大收藏家遞藏,或可為我們研究張靈的藝術成就,提供新的素材。黃文根,名雯,廣東清遠人。1939年任清遠平民醫院第一任院長,與朱汝珍友善。「懷萱堂」為其堂號,源自其所藏沈周〈懷萱圖〉,該作於2007年11月26日於香港佳士得釋出,拍品編號851;最近一次則於2021年7月15日在北京中鴻信上拍,拍品編號1215。該卷上亦鈐有與本幅相同的「懷萱堂」、「揖石齋」藏印。黃氏為民國時期重要收藏家,所藏明清書畫,頗多佳作,時見散於市場。王方宇生於北京,1936年畢業於北京輔仁大學教育系,1944年負笈美國,獲哥倫比亞大學碩士學位,先後任教於耶魯大學和西東大學。王氏乃海內外公認研究八大山人的權威及最重要的收藏家,他與班宗華合著《荷園主人-八大山人的生平與藝術(1626-1705)》及與許芥昱合著中英文版《看齊白石畫》乃同好者案頭必備。
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import License or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such License or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancelation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories excluding Arms & Armour, Coins and Medals, Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Wine & Whisky
28% on the first $50,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of $50,000 up to and including $1,000,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of $1,000,000 up to and including $6,000,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of $6,000,000.
A 3rd-party bidding platform fee (the "3rd-party bidding platform fee") equal to 4% of THE BID PRICE shall be payable by buyers whose successful bid is submitted via 3rd-party bidding platforms, including Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
Payment Notices
Payment for purchases may be made in or by (a) cash, (b) cashier's check or money order, (c) personal check with approved credit drawn on a U.S. bank, (d) wire transfer or other immediate bank transfer, or (e) Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit, charge or debit card for returning clients only. Please note that the amount of cash notes and cash equivalents that can be accepted from a given purchaser may be limited.
Shipping Notices
Los Angeles & New York Auctions
If you have requested a shipping quote, we will send this to you via email within 5 business days of the auction ending.
Please note our shipping quotes are bespoke and require special care and handling from our team and shippers. Shipping will be booked after payment is received. Please allow 7-14 business days from the time of booking for packing and dispatch, depending on your chosen shipping method. If your purchase is time sensitive, or you wish to explore other options, please see our list of alternative third party shippers in New York and Los Angeles who may be able to assist you.
Oversized Lots
Please note that all lots marked with a W in the catalogue are oversized and subject to additional storage and shipping methods. All additional lots purchased with W lots are considered group lots and will be subject to the same terms as W lots.
W Lots will be transferred to offsite storage at DTD Fine Art Services at the buyer's risk and expense within five (5) business days following the auction. Please contact the Client Services team at bids.us@bonhams.com for the exact movement date.
The per-lot charges levied by DTD Fine Art Services are as follows (plus any applicable sales tax):
FURNITURE/LARGE OBJECTS
Transfer .................. $75
Daily storage........... $10
Insurance (on Hammer + Premium + tax) 0.3%
SMALL OBJECTS
Transfer ................. $37.50
Daily storage........... $5
Insurance (on Hammer + Premium + tax) 0.3%
Please note property is also subject to a Cross Dock Release Fee ($25 for Smalls and $45 for Furniture and Large Objects) & if charges are paid with a credit card, Door to Door Fine Art Services will charge a 3% Convenience Fee.
If you have any questions, please contact our Client Services team.
Boston & Marlborough Auctions
Please click HERE for detailed collection and shipping information for Boston and Marlborough auctions.