Calligraphy Couplet in Running Script
A Museum-Quality Piece Coming Fresh-to-market After Nearly 80 Years

Bonhams Hong Kong Fine Chinese Paintings sale on 1 June presents Calligraphy Couplet in Running Script – the largest-ever couplet by modern master painter Zhang Daqian. The monumental and exceedingly rare work, measuring three and a half metres tall, is an exemplar of the creative pinnacle of Zhang's career, and is now making its market debut after nearly 80 years since its creation. Between 1941 and 1943, Zhang Daqian travelled to Dunhuang in Northwest China, once a frontier garrison on the Silk Road, to study Buddhist mural paintings. Mesmerised, he began exploring painting on a colossal scale. A similarly-sized calligraphic work by Zhang is now in the collection of Taipei Palace Museum, whereas this one on offer – no less a museum-quality piece – is evidently a superior example for its pristine condition, the richer content, and the more expressive style. The masterpiece, which comes from a very important Dutch collection, carries an estimate of HK$800,000-1,200,000 and will be available for public viewing at Bonhams Hong Kong saleroom from 20 to 31 May.

The sale also presents a series of works with strong provenance, including:

- Wang Shilu (1626-1673)
Sutra in Regular Script
Ink on silk, albums, set of four
Estimate: HK$2,000,000-3,000,000
Previously in the Collection Wang Caiting

- Wu Li (1632-1718)
Spring Village
Ink and colour on paper, handscroll
Estimate: HK$1,500,000-2,500,000
Previously in the Collection of Mrs. Irene Tseng (1955-2015)

- Wen Zhengming (1470-1559)
Landscape of Longqiu
Ink and light colour on paper, hanging scroll
Estimate: HK$500,000-800,000
From the Collection of Mark S. Pratt, Washington D.C.

- Bada Shanren (Zhu Da, 1626-1705)
Two Deer under Pine Tree
Ink on paper, hanging scroll
Estimate: HK$500,000-800,000
From a Private Northern Ireland collection