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'Twin Steeds' by a master Chinese painter
By Sang Ni |
December 27, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AMONG the most stellar works in Jiading Museum's collection is the painting "Twin Steeds" by Xu Beihong, the founder of Chinese modern art.
Xu was a master at painting horses, and many of his Chinese ink works are considered masterpieces today.
One of his works features a black galloping steed, turning its head as if reluctant to leave. It sold for more than 30 million yuan (US$4.5 million) at auction.
Xu was born in Yixing in 1905 and studied classic Chinese art and calligraphy with his father, beginning at age 6. He later studied art in Tokyo and at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He taught art at Peking University and Nanjing Central University.
In 1933 he organized an exhibition of modern Chinese paintings and toured Europe and Russia with it, raising money to help war victims at home.
In Moscow in the spring of 1934, he turned up in person at an exhibition and surprised museum-goers when he laid out his ink and paper and started painting. In no time, a running horse came to life under his brush. Onlookers broke into thunderous applause.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xu became president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He died of a stroke in 1953.
Xu was equally at home with oil and Chinese ink. His favorite subject was the horse. He would hang around horses whenever he got the chance, carefully observed their bodies, their movements and their expressions with his artistic eyes and imagination.
His horses mirrored Xu's personality and feelings. Those who gaze at his works appreciate not only his superb craftsmanship but also the passion behind it.
In China, the horse has always symbolized talent and lofty goals. None of the horses Xu painted was fettered by reins or bridles, except for the black mare in his painting on a Chinese legend.
When asked why the exception, Xu smiled and said simply: "Just like human beings, horses would willingly subject themselves to people who truly know them, but would reject those who are muddle-headed and stupid."
Xu was a master at painting horses, and many of his Chinese ink works are considered masterpieces today.
One of his works features a black galloping steed, turning its head as if reluctant to leave. It sold for more than 30 million yuan (US$4.5 million) at auction.
Xu was born in Yixing in 1905 and studied classic Chinese art and calligraphy with his father, beginning at age 6. He later studied art in Tokyo and at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He taught art at Peking University and Nanjing Central University.
In 1933 he organized an exhibition of modern Chinese paintings and toured Europe and Russia with it, raising money to help war victims at home.
In Moscow in the spring of 1934, he turned up in person at an exhibition and surprised museum-goers when he laid out his ink and paper and started painting. In no time, a running horse came to life under his brush. Onlookers broke into thunderous applause.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xu became president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He died of a stroke in 1953.
Xu was equally at home with oil and Chinese ink. His favorite subject was the horse. He would hang around horses whenever he got the chance, carefully observed their bodies, their movements and their expressions with his artistic eyes and imagination.
His horses mirrored Xu's personality and feelings. Those who gaze at his works appreciate not only his superb craftsmanship but also the passion behind it.
In China, the horse has always symbolized talent and lofty goals. None of the horses Xu painted was fettered by reins or bridles, except for the black mare in his painting on a Chinese legend.
When asked why the exception, Xu smiled and said simply: "Just like human beings, horses would willingly subject themselves to people who truly know them, but would reject those who are muddle-headed and stupid."
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