QI BAISHI (1863 - 1957)

PRIVATE COLLECTION OF MR. YUNG PING

These paintings and works of calligraphy were part of the fine collection of Mr. Yung Ping (1907-1998), a native of Canton and a well-known journalist, who also served as a government official. As Deputy Head of the Central News Agency, he represented the government of China in Hong Kong, in particular during official interactions with the British. As evidenced by the numerous dedications by the artists to Mr. Yung on these works, he was an enthusiastic collector of modern Chinese paintings and calligraphy and knew many of the artists personally. Many of the artists dedicated their works to Mr. Yung, who used the courtesy name Jingxi. This collection includes works given to him by renowned artists from Hong Kong and Taiwan at the time, including Zhao Shao'ang, Pu Ru, Yu Youren, Guan Shanyue. Scholar under a Pine Tree by Fu Baoshi was a gift from Mr. Wang Shangyi, a colleague from the agency.