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Hoping someone can help me with this painting I purchased in Singapore. Any info would be helpful. Thanks

inscription reads "inscribed (or painted) by Yu Wei in Shanghai in winter 1898" (cyclical date, so might also be 1958 (not likely) or 1838, but most probably 1898.

Rat
Thank you so much for taking the time to have a look and respond to my inquiry. I had forgotten until reading your response that the woman at the shop where I bought this thought it was painted in the 1950's so '58 might be possible. Would you have any suggestions of a good website to research Chinese painters?

hi willie, I looked through the Chinese books I have on Chinese painters for this person and didn't see the name, so I don't think there will be much of anything in English on him/her but I will look on google using the name in Chinese and see what comes up when I get a chance. there aren't any really good websites on chinese painting in english that would include information on minor painters.

Rat
Thanks for looking. I had mentioned this to someone locally and they suggested that although the inscription reads Yu Wei the artists name is Yu Wenhua. When I did a search for this name there were some results that look the right style but not alot of information. Is there a particular book you might recommend that lists Chinese signatures and seals?

yes, your friend is right, except that "Wei" is his given name whereas "Wenhua" is a nickname. Here's a bio:
http://artist.artxun.com/25219-yuwenhua/jianjie/
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Yu Wenhua, given name Wei, nickname Wenhua.

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Born in Suzhou in 1921

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In his early years studied with a succession of teachers, learing traditional painting from Cai Shen(?) and Zhang Shiyuan, and in 1948 ... becoming a student of Zhang Daqian.

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Yu Wenhua is good at both landscapes and birds/flowers.

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His landscapes follow Song and Yuan styles, in any artist's style

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In birds and flowers follows Ming and Qing styles, he's especially good at peonies

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Works exhibited in France, Japan, US, South Korea, Hong Kong

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In 1988 he had a one man show in Singapore, in 2001 a one man show at Shanghai's Duoyunxuan.

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collections of his paintings published in 1998 and 2006

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Currently teaching at the China Painting Academy in Shanghai, and has various other posts and memberships.

Rat,
Again, thank you very much for your time and effort. It is good to finally have a bit of information about the artist of a painting I enjoy daily. I will look into the books as you suggested. Your responses are greatly appreciated.
Willie

it may be difficult to find the books. if you really want them Hanshantang can probably locate them for you but they will charge through the nose. there may be other images of his paintings published, but unless you happen to be in a Chinese art bookstore in Beijing or Shanghai or perhaps Hong Kong you are not likely to come across them I am afraid.

Rat
As you say, the books seem difficult to find in the US. Maybe someday I'll find myself travelling over there and search around a little. Thanks for all your help. I will probably post some more inquiries soon so maybe we will meet here again.

there are books on signatures and seals but none in English really. To find more on Yu Wei, look for the two books published on his works. in the back there are likely to be a few pages of his seal impressions.

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