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Lot 1541 LOTS 1541 - 1543
PROPERTY FROM A FRENCH PRIVATE COLLECTION
The present selection of paintings was in the collection of Hugues-Jean de Dianous (1914-2008), and thence by descent. A well-respected French diplomat and sinologist, Mr. de Dianous arrived at the French Embassy in China in 1945. After the war, he moved with the Embassy, from Chongqing, to Nanjing, Kunming, Nanning, and finally Haikou, where he became the French General Consul. Aided by his wife Claire, who spoke fluent Mandarin, Mr. de Dianous became acquainted with many artists when in Chongqing, and was particularly close to Fu Baoshi.
Dreaming of Chateau de Montlys captures an extraordinary friendship between two men in a time of war. In autumn 1945, Mr. de Dianous was residing in Chongqing, where he befriended the renowned painter Fu Baoshi at the outset of the Chinese Civil War. The painting depicts a dream Mr. de Dianous related to the artist: the diplomat as a young boy, running along the banks of the Rhone River and up to his family home, Chateau de Montlys, surrounded by friends and family. Touched by this idyllic vision, Fu translated the French landscape and scenery with exquisite traditional Chinese brushwork, not only as consolation to a nostalgic friend, but a poignant elegy to peace at a moment of emerging conflict.
PROPERTY FROM A FRENCH PRIVATE COLLECTION
The present selection of paintings was in the collection of Hugues-Jean de Dianous (1914-2008), and thence by descent. A well-respected French diplomat and sinologist, Mr. de Dianous arrived at the French Embassy in China in 1945. After the war, he moved with the Embassy, from Chongqing, to Nanjing, Kunming, Nanning, and finally Haikou, where he became the French General Consul. Aided by his wife Claire, who spoke fluent Mandarin, Mr. de Dianous became acquainted with many artists when in Chongqing, and was particularly close to Fu Baoshi.
Dreaming of Chateau de Montlys captures an extraordinary friendship between two men in a time of war. In autumn 1945, Mr. de Dianous was residing in Chongqing, where he befriended the renowned painter Fu Baoshi at the outset of the Chinese Civil War. The painting depicts a dream Mr. de Dianous related to the artist: the diplomat as a young boy, running along the banks of the Rhone River and up to his family home, Chateau de Montlys, surrounded by friends and family. Touched by this idyllic vision, Fu translated the French landscape and scenery with exquisite traditional Chinese brushwork, not only as consolation to a nostalgic friend, but a poignant elegy to peace at a moment of emerging conflict.
FU BAOSHI (1904-1965)
Dreaming of Chateau de Montlys
Closed2 June 2015
Price Realised
HKD 17,440,000