Two Paintings with Luohan Riding a Lion and an Elephant, China, possibly a Court painter of the 18th ct., two paintings, framed under glass, each 59,6 x 38 cm, gold pigment and colors on black painted paper. The paintings are unsigned. Above each an inscription in regular script with Buddhist philosophical thoughts, each with two seals of the calligrapher: "Your subject Kai" (chen Kai), "Respectfully written" (jing shu). Fine paintings of high quality possibly from the Imperial workshops of the 18th century. Probably from a series of the Sixteen or Eighteen Luohan. The Luohan with the long eyebrows riding a lion with a horn is perhaps the famous Pindola. The second luohan is riding an elephant and carries the rattle staff of a monk. From the tip of his finger appears another small figure standing on lotos flowers. The seals of the calligrapher don't tell his family name, but their formulae show that he was active at court for the Emperor - Provenance: Former Dutch private collection - Very minor traces of age