'MAGU AND CRANE', FOLLOWER OF GAI Q (1773-1828), DATED 1843 China. Ink and watercolors on silk, mounted as a hanging scroll. The immortal carrying her flower basket filled with peaches, peonies, and chrysanthemums, strung by green strings held in her hands, dressed in a long flowing robe with a billowing scarf and a leafy skirt, two lingzhi attached by a string to her robe, a crane standing beside her.

Inscriptions: Upper left, signed 'Yuhu Waishi Gai Qi', and dated 'six days after the tomb sweeping festival in the year of Guimao (corresponding to April 1843), two artist seals. Lower right, one collector's seal.

Provenance: Old collectors label at the scroll handle inscribed '4499/E40 Kai Chi Figures'. Swiss trade.
Condition: Good condition with some wear, minor staining and creases, some soiling on the image and mounting, the mounting with minor tears.

Dimensions: Image size 131 x 62.5 cm, size incl. mounting 231 x 83.5 cm

Gai Qi (1773-1828), known by his courtesy name Boyun and scholar name Yuhu Waishi, was one of the most accomplished artists of the mid-Qing era, who mastered the painting of lady's portraits beyond comparison. He is also noted for the illustration of an important fiction in Chinese literature history, Dream of the Red Chamber, also known as The Story of the Stone.


1843年改琦款《麻姑獻壽圖》
中國，絹本設色，掛軸。麻姑身負一籃壽桃、牡丹、菊花，身著飄逸長袍，衣紋流暢，身佩靈芝，一側有鶴相伴。

款識：癸卯清明節後六日，玉壺外史改琦
鈴印：改琦，七鄉

來源：舊藏家標籤'4499/E40 Kai Chi Figures'；瑞士古玩交易市場。
品相：狀況良好，有一些磨損、輕微染色和摺痕，局部有些髒污，裝幀有輕微撕裂。

尺寸：畫面131 x 62.5 厘米，總 231 x 83.5 厘米