Scholar on Horseback in Snow

WEN ZHENGMING (1470-1559) Scholar on Horseback in Snow Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper 135.2 x 30.7 cm. (53 ¼ x 12 1⁄8 in.) Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist Three collector's seals, including one of Xi Eming (1880-1919) and two of Deng Shi (1877-1951) Titleslip by Chu Deyi (1871-1942), with a total of two seals NOTE: Xi E’ming, given name Guangxu and known by the courtesy names E’ming and E’ming (variant forms) as well as Yehe, was a prominent pigments merchant and collector in late Qing and early Republican Shanghai. His studio names included E’lu (also written E’lu), and his rooms were known as Wenyixuan and Xiaodonghua’an. Xi maintained close friendships with leading Shanghai artists such as Pu Hua, Wu Changshuo, Zhang Zuyi, Chu Deyi and Zhao Shuru, with Chu Deyi in particular being a lifelong confidant; many works in his collection bear Chu’s inscriptions. Deng Shi, courtesy name Qiumei and sobriquet Yecan, was a native of Shunde, Guangdong. Founder of the Shenzhou Guoguang Society, he published rubbings, painting albums and various classical texts. As the master of Fengyu Lou, he formed a substantial collection of calligraphy and paintings.