Various Artists (19th century)


Calligraphy and BambooA double-sided folding fan, with painted fan sticks of a Fishing Scholar and the Two Qiao Sisters a) Wang Renkan (1848-1893) Calligraphy in Running Script, ink on gold-flecked paper, inscribed and signed Kezhuang Wang Renkan with two artist's seals reading Renkan and Kezhuang.b) Unidentified Artist (19th/20th century) Bamboo, ink on paper, inscribed, dated jichou xia liu yue (1889, summer, sixth month), signed with one artist's seal (tears, abrasions, fading). 9 1/2 x 18 1/2in (24.2 x 47cm)
|Wang Renkan (1848-1893) was a noted late-Qing scholar. He placed first in the civil service examination during third year the Guangxu emperor's reign (1877), and held various posts supervising regional civil service examinations. He was once demoted by the Dowager Empress Cixi for criticizing the expensive restoration of the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). In addition to his accomplishments in disaster relief where he was posted as an official, Wang Renkan was much admired for his calligraphy.