趙孟頫; Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322 AD) of the Yuan Dynasty, “Horse inspection”, - Large antique Chinese painting. The painting itself is surrounded by inscriptions by Zhao Mengfu. The painting was framed under glass, many years ago. It appears to be in ink and color on silk; may be laid down on board (I have not had it out of the frame). Some toning and minor cracks in silk, none affecting main scene. Size: About 62” x 22” = 157.5 cm x 56 cm; Provenance and location: Private collection in Alabama, USA. Acquired in Europe or the Middle East shortly after WW II. Auction results: 1) Zhao Mengfu (attributed to) - Essay in running script, Ink on silk, 9.7” x 5.6”= 24.7 cm x 14.2 cm, Sotheby’s, China, Hong Kong, Estimate: 600,000 -900,000 HKD = $778,200 - $1,167,300 USD; 2) Zhao Mengfu, Horses and grooms, ink colors, 35”x 63”, -Bonham’s Hong Kong, 04/03/2018- Sold for 800,000 HKD = 1,037,600 USD; 3) Zhao Mengfu, Duren Sutra, -Christies, China, Hong Kong, 05/29/2006, ink 10” x 12”, - Sold for 200,000 HKD = $259,400 USD; 4) Zhao Mengfu (attributed to), Horse and groom, Christie’s, China, Hong Kong, ink and color on silk, 13” x 10.6” = 33cm x 27cm, Sold for 162,500 HKD = $210,762 USD; 5) Zhao Mengfu. Correspondence 05/28/2018, Ink, - Sold for 80,000 HKD = $103,760 USD; 6) Zhao Mengfu. Running script calligraphy, Christies, China, Hong Kong, 05/28/2018, Sold for 437,500 HKD = $567,437 USD; 7) Zhao Mengfu. Eight horses hand rolled, Est-Ouest Auctions, Hong Kong, 05/31/2014, painting, 78”x13”, - Sold for $38,210 USD. Biography: Zhao Mengfu (Chinese: 趙孟頫; pinyin: Zhào Mèngfǔ; Wade–Giles: Chao Meng-fu; courtesy name Zi'ang (子昂); pseudonyms Songxue (松雪, "Pine Snow"), Oubo (鷗波, "Gull Waves"), and Shuijing-gong Dao-ren (水精宮道人, "Master of the Water Spirits Palace"); 1254–1322), was a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and scholar during the Yuan dynasty.[1] He 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 Bogui was a descendant of Emperor Taizu, through his son Zhao Defang. He was recommended by the Censor-in-chief Cheng Jufu [zh] 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".[2] 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. One of his most celebrated landscape paintings is exhibited at the Princeton University Art Museum with the title “The Mind Landscape of Xie Youyu” (幼輿丘壑), an allusion to the nature-loving scholar-official Xie Youyu (280–322). However, in 2019 Dutch scholar Lennert Gesterkamp argued that the colophon attached to the painting and mentioning Xie Youyu is a forgery, and that in fact Zhao Mengfu's intention was to honor his own spiritual master, Daoist scholar Du Daojian (1237–1318), who also celebrated nature.[3] 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.[4]