Lot 36
REN XUN (CHINESE, 1835-1893), SHANGHAI SCHOOL
CHINESE INK PAINTING OF TWO FIGURES AND HORSE
Auction: Brushes Across Empire | Wed 11th March from 10am | Lots 1 to 179
Description
海派 任薰 駿馬圖 水墨設色絹本 立軸
款識：丙戌夏日阜長任薰寫於怡受軒
鈐印：任薰
ink and colour on silk, with inscriptions, seal and signature, dated to the year of Bing Xu, corresponding to 1886AD, hanging scroll
Dimensions
114cm x 51cm
Provenance
Acquired by Sir James Stewart Lockhart (1858-1937) January 1914, for HK $20 (Sir James Stewart Lockhart, Notebook, dated 1910-1921, p. 366, NLS Acc. 12695/26c);
Gifted to his daughter, Mary Stewart Lockhart (1894-1985);
Presented by the above to George Watson’s College, Edinburgh in 1967;
Lent to the National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh (2003-2025).
Footnote
Ren Xun (1835–1893), courtesy name Fuchang, was the uncle and teacher of Ren Yi. Together with Ren Xiong and Ren Yi, they are collectively known as the "Three Rens." His figure paintings drew inspiration from Chen Hongshou, featuring uniquely imaginative and grandly proportioned figures with powerful, flowing lines reminiscent of drifting clouds and flowing water. He was particularly skilled in heavy colour painting, able to harmonise contrasting colours to create a rustic charm. He also made significant contributions to bird-and-flower painting, landscapes, and garden design, and participated in the design of the Yi Garden in Suzhou.
任薰 (1835-1893), 字阜長，是任頤的伯父和老師，與任熊、任頤並稱「三任」。他的人物畫取法陳洪綬，造型奇軀偉貌，別出匠心，線條遒勁如行雲流水。他尤長於重彩，能將對比鮮明的色彩調和得古樸意趣，在花鳥、山水及園林設計上亦頗有建樹，曾參與設計蘇州怡園。
Sold to Benefit George Watson's College, Edinburgh
捐助愛丁堡喬治沃森學院義賣