Important Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Will Be Offered at Bonhams

A noted painter of the Qing dynasty, Zhu Xubai left the imperial army to become a monk and took the name Xu Gu. He hopped between cities in an attempt to sell his paintings. Although Xu Gu had been trained in a portrait shop to portray realistic images, several of his paintings show little evidence of this style. His artistry was in employing light colors to illustrate the forms of his composition. Bonhams’ The Reverend Richard Fabian Collection of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy auction features a major painting by Xu Gu. In this scene, a woman can be seen beside several branches which have been loosely connected. 

Another lot of interest is Zhang Daqian’s Woman Holding a Flower. The artist uses ink and color on paper to depict a woman dressed in traditional clothing holding a red flower. Painted in 1948, the piece features a blue, decorative border and an inscription by Zhang Daqian. Explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Bonhams.