19 paintings dated from the eighteenth century, which have decorated for over a hundred years the walls of a family house, have proved to be unique masterpieces of a courtyard painter from the Qing dynasty.
The works were recently sold for a record amount, the what the Jam’s publication reports.
The collection of paintings with birds, which adorned for decades the walls of a house, brought to the owners 780,000 pounds (about 18 million Moldovan lei). Expert Bill Forrest discovered, during an evaluation, that the works are signed by Jiang Tingxi-a renowned official painter of the Qing dynasty, dating from the eighteenth century.
Collectible paintings
The first discovery was made in a family in southern London, where the expert identified seven original paintings. Subsequently, another twelve works were recognized in a property in Dorset, belonging to relatives of the first family.
Jiang Tingxi was considered one of the most respected artists and scientists of the Qing dynasty. He was noted for his work with birds and flowers, collaborating tightly with Western missionaries from the Imperial Court, from which he borrowed European painting techniques, especially the linear perspective. The special value of the works is increased by the original texts kept next to each painting. These texts include detailed ornithological observations, philosophical comments and references to Chinese folklore. Some birds represented are not recorded in the classic sources, which gives the works an exceptional scientific value.
Art historians, amazed
“It is one of the most unusual discoveries in my career. To find original works by Jiang Tingxi, kept in private hands, unknown to the academic community and with original texts intact – it is an extraordinary rarity,” said expert Bill Forrest.
The paintings were sold by the Roseberys auction house. Each collection brought 390,000 pounds following an intense auction, attended by both buyers in the room and online. The masterpieces were purchased by a private collector through an agent.
