Scholar in the Mountains

WU GUXIANG (1848-1903)
Scholar in the Mountains
Fan leaf, mounted for framing, ink and colour on paper
17.5 x 53 cm. (6 ⁷⁄₈ x 20 ⁷⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated fifth month, Dinghai year (1887)

China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd., 1995 Autumn Auction – Chinese Paintings, 8 October 1995, Lot 433.

Dr Kuo is a renowned ophthalmologist in Taiwan. He was born into a family of doctors in Chiayi, Taiwan. Dr Kuo also graduated from the Taipei Medical College and served as the Chief of Ophthalmology at the Taipei Renai Hospital. His father studied Chinese and specialised in calligraphy, influencing Kuo to take an interest in Chinese culture, history and art. While practising medicine, Kuo often learned at the National Palace Museum in Taipei and began collecting paintings and calligraphy by well-known artists and celebrities and ancient artefacts. Kuo managed to build an extensive private collection, which works from it was later passed down through the family.