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Zhao Mengfu (趙孟頫; 1254-1322) framed Chinese Yuan Dynasty traditional silk painting, ink and color on silk, depicted a stallion and hunter. Signed and dated, in the Forth years of Dade Emperor reign period (大德; 1297–1307) reign period (ca. 1301).
A single dark steed stares off while a hunter holding a game. Colorful pigmentation has been expertly applied to the silk surface with a great deal of attention to detail. The saddle and figures are constructed with very fine linework creating a life-like appearance. Official red seals are noted in both bottom right and left corners of the painting.
PROVENANCE: From the heirloom collections of DR. Wu Guozhen (吳國楨; October 21, 1903-June 6, 1984) was a Chinese political figure and historian, government official who served as mayor of Hankow (1932-1938), mayor of Chung-king (1939-1941), political vice minister of foreign affairs (1943-1945), mayor of Shanghai (1946-1948), and governor of Taiwan (1950-1952) and the former Chairman of Taiwan Provincial Government. He resigned in 1953 and went to the United States. K.C. Wu lived in the United States where he served as professor of Chinese history at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. During his time in the United States, he wrote various works, including a detailed analysis on Chinese culture in the context of mythology and early history in his book The Chinese Heritage.
The second part collections of DR. Wu Guozhen (吳國楨) presented and offered up to auctions: ON DAY-1: From Lot-97 through Lot-124, and continued from Lot-204 through Lot-228. ON DAY-2: from Lot-357 through Lot-386.
LOT NOTES: Zhao Mengfu (趙孟頫; 1254-1322) courtesy name Zi ang (子昂); pseudonyms Songxue (松雪, Pine Snow ), Oubo (鸥波, Gull Waves ), and Shuijing gong Dao ren (水精宫道人, Master of the Crystal Palace ); was a descendant of the Song Dynasty s imperial family through Emperor Xiaozong’s brother Zhao Bogui who married a lady surnamed Song who was the granddaughter of Emperor Huizong.
Zhao Mengfu was a Chinese scholar, painter and calligrapher during the Yuan Dynasty.
He was recommended by the Censor in chief Cheng Jufu to pay an audience with Kublai Khan in 1286 at the Yuan capital of Dadu, but was not awarded an important position in office. His work was however, greatly appreciated later by the Confucian inspired Yuan Emperor Renzong. Zhao was a member of the Academy of Worthies.
He was married to Guan Daosheng, who was also an accomplished poet, painter and calligrapher. His rejection of the refined, gentle brushwork of his era in favour of the cruder style of the eighth century is considered to have brought about a revolution that created the modern Chinese landscape painting. He was known for his paintings of horses. His landscapes are also considered to be done in a style that focuses more on a literal laying of ground. Rather than organizing them in a foreground, middle ground, and background pattern he layers middle grounds at various heights to create a sense of depth. This pattern of organization makes his paintings appear very simple and approachable. It was this characteristic that so many people valued about his style.
Zhao Mengfu had several sons with his wife Guan Daosheng. His second son, Zhao Yong, also became a famous painter and calligrapher. He was also the maternal grandfather of Wang Meng, another famous painter. Zhao Mengfu was related to the later Ming dynasty literary figure Zhao Yiguang and his son Zhao Jun.