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Lot 297
SCENES DURING THE QINGMING FESTIVAL
Estimated Value:
1.500 € - 2.500 €
Result:
5.180 € incl. Premium and VAT
Description:
China, ca. 17th c.28,2 x 393 cm
Handscroll, ink and colors on silk. The long scroll depicts lively and interesting scenes in a Chinese town during a spring festival, most likely the Qingming festival. The willows in fresh green all over the painting point to this spring time event. In its composition and many details the scroll reminds one of the famous handscroll by Zhang Zeduan from the 11th century now in the Palace Museum in Peking. But the scenes are different, it lacks for example the large ships and the city gate of that scroll. This scroll is cut after the first scenes with depictions of life in the country site and glued together again. The missing scenes may have been the famous scenes from the Zhang Zeduan scroll. All kind of people are shown flocking into the town where different activities of entertainment and pleasure are depicted. Ladies are dancing and playing music in the buildings of a palace garden, paintings and silk are sold in the shops at the street. A cock fight and even the repair of a roof are depicted. The most interesting are scenes of military horse games and of a military triumph at the end of the scroll. A captive is presented to an official sitting at a desk and flanked by generals in elaborate armor. On a high tribune even the emperor seems to be depicted surrounded by large flags. Two round European seals at the beginning and end of the scroll: “Ex Biblioth. Regia Becobnens.(?)”. Handwritten label.
South German private collection, acquired before 2000 - The scroll is cut and glued together again after the first section of the painting, wear, traces of age, minor damages
