A painting 'Horses' by Xu Beihong (1895-1953), signed and dated May 1945, with the seal of the artist.
Ink and colour on paper, signed Beihong, dated the thirthy-fourth year (1945) of the Republic of China, summer, May, with one seal of the artist, beihong. Measurement 76x47 cm.
Damages.
Provenance
From the Collection of Henrik Lennart Blomstedt (1921-2009). Henrik Blomstedt was a Finnish diplomat who was stationed in Beijing between 1951 and 1954 as II class Secretary of Finnish Embassy. The painting was purchased in 1953 in Beijing according to familys recollection, thence by descent.
More information
Finland was one of the very first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China, opening up the first Finnish Embassy in 1952, with Helge von Knorring as the first resident Ambassador to China and Henrik Blomstedt as his assistant, and thereafter as a II class Secretary of Embassy in Beijing 1952-54. In one image, Henrik Blomstedt is shown (from the left) with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, with others.
Compare similar one at Sotheby's Hong Kong 'Fine Chinese Painting' sale, the 2nd October 2017, lot 1247