"CONFUCIUS" BY WANG SHOUQI (1603-1652) Black ink and color on silk. Signed on the upper left. Two seals. In a scenic sequence: The seated Confucius, next to him a bronze gu and a se (Chinese plucked zither), a noble lady, a boy riding on a qilin, accompanied by a girl carrying two crickets in a cage. Provenance: From a private estate. Condition: Fine condition with some wear, creases, minimal tears, some soiling and stains. Dimensions: 126 x 63 cm (the frame) and 104 x 45 cm (the painting) The present painting convinces because of its meticulous execution of fine detail. Especially the style in which the qilin is depicted seem to be consistent with other artwork originated towards the end of the Ming dynasty and into the Kangxi period. According to legend, the birth of Confucius was foretold by the arrival of a qilin, which is probably why the artist has paid significant attention to the depiction of the mythical beast in this work. 《孔夫子》萬壽祺 (1603-1652) 絹本設色。左上角落款，2個鈴印。人物次序：孔夫子坐在古箏前，再者一位貴婦，最前方是一個騎著麒麟的小男孩與一個小女孩帶著一個籠子，籠內有兩隻蟋蟀。 來源：私人遺產 品相：狀況良好，有磨損、摺痕、輕微撕裂和污漬。 尺寸：裝幀126 x 63厘米，畫心104 x 45厘米