ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

Dr. Chen Yaosheng (1911-1990), to whom the painting is dedicated, was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. In the 1930s he studied in Britain, gaining his doctorate degree in Economics at the London School of Economics. He married and stayed in London, opening a Chinese restaurant in Golders Green, the first in the UK to offer Beijing cuisine, for Dr. Chen claimed he wanted to 'educate the British palate'. He met Zhang Daqian during Zhang's visit to London, and this painting was gifted to Dr. Chen. Later, Dr. Chen moved to Scotland to be near his daughter and grandchildren, Jeremy and Fiona Eade.
Dr. Chen Yaosheng