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My parents were avid collectors of Chinese and Japanese art. I am interested in finding out about two scrolls that were brought from China in the early 30s by a dear friend of theirs, as well as a couple of works I believe are by Chang Dai-chien. The two scrolls are quite large - the paintings are 72" x 22", and the backing is somewhat larger. The woman who brought them back was married to the doctor who started the first psychatric hospital in China - it is the one in Beijing that is near the restaurant now known as the "Sick Duck." Both paintings have one large chop mark at the center of the top - o they are about 3-4" square. Each also has a small amount of calligraphy down the lower left side, alomg with two small chop marks. Beyond that I know nothing about them. I will attach photos in a series.

I am also interested to find out if the other two pieces are by Chang Dai-chien. I have two other framed studies that are definitely Chang Dai-chien, and they were bought in the US. I believe the two pictured works were bought directly from the artist at his studio in Taiwan, as I have pictures of him with my parents. I will send pictures in follow-up emails.

I am grateful for any help you can give.

These pictures are additonal details from the first scroll. Sorry for the picture quality.

This is scroll 2, the mate to the first scroll.

Here are the details on scroll 2

These are the two pieces I think may be Chang Dai-chien.

First one is style of Zhang but is not by him, is not his handwriting, seals are askew etc.

Second one is not by Zhang.

I have numerous pieces of art from japan and china. The one I am most curious about is probably the least valuable but is a scroll replica of Chang Dai-chien's Landscape of the Yangtze River from the National Museum of the Republic of China. It has to be something like 15-20 feet long though it has never been un-scrolled completely....

The painting is marked at the top with a seal of the Qianlong Emperor (cannot say if this is a correct seal at this point) and the painting signed in the court fashion for Imperial presentation by Zhang Ruocheng (1722 -1770). Not a prolific painter which often raises some doubts in the market as early 20th century and even later 20th century copyists tend to use ascription to minor lesser known court artists for works they hope will garner greater prices from the imperial connection. I do not know his work well and cannot judge easily based on your images. The Zhang Daiqian appears to be corect for his signature and at least one of two seals by the end of the inscription. The connection with your parents bodes well for the painting at least to be correct. The framed section appears to be the prontispiece for an album by Zhang daiqian, but not his calligraphy.


Anthony M. Lee
Asian Art Research

These two "blue and green" style pictures are good decorative Qing landscapes but not as far as I can tell by the artist whose name is signed to them. The signature names Zhang Ruodeng 张若澄, who passed the civil service exam in 1745 and served under the Qianlong emperor.

Here is one of Zhang's works in the Palace Museum, Beijing collection:
http://photo.blog.sina.com.cn/showpic.html#blogid=14b3d4d590102wjd5&url=http://album.sina.com.cn/pic/00645LlLzy6V4y3Gdki3e

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