Hollyhock and Butterfly

ANONYMOUS (18-19TH CENTURY)
Hollyhock and Butterfly
Scroll, mounted for framing, ink and colour on silk
161.5 x 85.5 cm. (63 ⁵⁄₈ x 33 ⁵⁄₈ in.)
With one illegible seal
Titleslip inscribed and signed by He Guanwu, with one seal
Dated twelfth month, renchen year (1952)

A native of Sanshui, He Guanwu (20th Century) was a noted collector in Guangdong. He made his fortune in the early 20th century by trading silk. In 1923, He joined the Paintings Research Society and befriended many artists in Guangzhou. He started collecting Chinese paintings and calligraphy under the name of Tianxi Studio. His collection eventually dispersed as his business diminished.

We are proud to present a set of six classical paintings previously from the collection of He Guanwu. Titleslips inscribed by He accompany several works. Other works previously belonged to He, such as Landscape after Huang Gongwang by Wang Shimin and Mountains in Snow and Calligraphy in Running Script by Dong Gao, will be offered in the Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 3 December 2022. These works provide a glimpse of He Guanwu's vast and diversified collection.