ZHU MENGLU (1826-1900)
Flowers and Birds in Four Seasons
A set of four hanging scrolls, ink and colour on paper
Each scroll measures 181 x 41.5 cm. (71 .1⁄4 x 16 .3⁄8 in.)
Two scrolls inscribed and signed, two scrolls signed, with a total of four sealsof the artist
With a total of four collector's seals of Cheng Kinlo (1892-1980)
Each titleslip inscribed by Cheng Kinlo, with one seal

Cheng Kinlo (1892-1980), courtesy name Zijian, also known as Yupi and Jiaqi, was born in a scholarly family in Guangdong. He and his sixth brother, Marcus C.C. Cheng (1898-?), were in charge of Chung Hwa Book Company’s business in Hong Kong and Macau in the 1930s. His family has been running a tea business in Fujian for decades, and thus they had a deep friendship with the local gentry and cultural figures.

Cheng Kinlo served as the principal of Guishan Public Primary School in Xiangshan County, Guangdong in his early years. He travelled to Shanghai in the early 1920s and served as the sales director of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, founded by patriotic businessmen Jian Zhaonan and Jian Yujie. During his tenure, he met Huang Manshi (1890-1963), who was also working in Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, and the two became working partners and close friends.

In the early 1930s, Cheng Kinlo was recruited by Lu Feikui to join Chung Hwa Book Company, and served as the director of the South China Region, overseeing the eight branches of Fujian, Guangdong, Shantou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Xiamen, Yunnan and Wuzhou. He stationed in Hong Kong and oversaw the construction of the Hong Kong printing factory.

Cheng Kinlo was well acquainted with the cultural circles, and had a lasting friendship with Xu Beihong (1895-1953).