Chinese collectors, there’s a new record to beat. The “Red Cliff Handscroll,” the most famous work by Ming Dynasty artist Qiu Ying, was sold in Beijing Tuesday for $10.7 million USD, a new record for the sale of a Chinese painting. The record bid came from an unnamed private collector from the mainland, reported China Guardian Auctions, the house officiating the sale. The hefty price tag of “Red Cliff” stems from a renewed interest in Ming Dynasty artwork and the dearth of pieces left behind by Qiu. The Suzhou artist, an expert of the detailed gongbi brush technique, only left behind 40 works. The head of the the auction house said, “we are very pleased… not only has the auction price created a world record for a Chinese painting, it signifies a new stage for Chinese paintings in international sales.” The previous record for a Chinese painting was set by by Xu Beihong’s “Put Down Your Whip,” when it sold for $8.7 million US in Hong Kong earlier this year. While we at the China Arts Page congratulate the new owner of the “Red Cliff Handscroll,” we can’t help but wonder, where are you going to put a massive scroll?
Photo: China.org.cn
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