XIA TONGHE (1868-1925)
Eight-character Calligraphic Couplet in Regular Script
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink on paper
Each scroll measures 244.7 x 40.3 cm. (96 ³⁄₈ x 15 ⁷⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dedicated to Suitian

He Tingguang (19th century-20th century), courtesy name Suitian, was born in Xiangshan, Guangdong, and was the founding manager of the newspaper Zhixin Bao. He was naturalised as a Portuguese citizen when he was young, and supported reform and revolutionary ideas. In 1896, when Kang Youwei (1858-1927) went to Hong Kong and Macao, He Tingguang was deeply influenced by his innovative ideas and invested in the founding of Zhixin Bao, which served as a media to spread revolutionary ideas in South China. He also established hospitals, schools and enterprises in Macau, and was a prominent figure in Macau society in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.