Description
ink and colour on paper, inscribed with a poem, signed 'Xin Yu Hua Bing Ti' (painted and inscribed by Xinyu, courtesy name of Pu Ru), with four seals 'Pu Ru', 'Jiu Wang Sun', 'Zhi Zai Gao Shan' and 'Sheng Xin Zhai', framed and glazed
Dimensions
89cm high, 31cm wide (sight)
Footnote
Provenance: The Property of the late H. H. Lennox, former Shanghai Manager of Jardine, Matheson & Co.
The painting bears a label verso reading 'Property of H. H. Lennox'. According to our research, H. H. Lennox worked until 1951 as Shanghai manager for Jardine, Matheson & Co., one of the original Hong Kong trading houses or Hongs that date back to Imperial China.
Note:
Pu Ru (1896-1963), also known under his courtesy name Xinyu, was a traditional Chinese painter and calligrapher and a member of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, the ruling house of the Qing dynasty. He was a great grandson of Emperor Daoguang and cousin to Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China. Pu Ru is as celebrated for his artistic achievement as the southern artist Zhang Daqian. Together, they became known as ‘Pu of the North and Zhang of the South’ (Nan Zhang Bei Pu).
Pu Ru, who spent ten years in solitude perfecting his painting skills and nicknamed himself ‘Hermit of the Western Mountain’, is best known for the tranquillity and poeticism of his landscapes. The present painting, depicting cottages tucked away amongst lush forested hills, creating a sense of vast expanse with rhythmically spaced voids, represents Pu’s mature style and his most accomplished efforts in landscape painting.