106,5 x 47,2 cm Condition Style of Yu Zhiding (1647-1716), China, dated 1712, Scholar Watching a Pair of Cranes under a Pine. Hanging scroll, ink and colours on silk. Signature: "In the beginning of winter in the renchen year (1712) I have copied the painting 'Watching Cranes in the Shade of Pines' by Zhao Danian (Zhao Lingrang, ca. 1100), Guangling Yu Zhiding". One seal: "Zhiding". Four collectors' seals "ancheng cun (wu)", "shixuhua zhuren yunzhai zhenshang" etc.- Yu Zhiding was a famous figure painter from Yangzhou. In the Kangxi reign he served for some time as a court painter, but returned soon to his native place and lived on the Dongting island in the Taihu lake. He was considered the best portrait painter of his time. In his figure painting he achieved not only considerable realism, influenced to a certain amount by Western painting, but also an expression of emotion. He also painted landscapes. This piece is a very fine and detailed painting of the 18th century.-Acquired at Hauswedell, Hamburg, 16th Jan 1974, auction 194, no. 7-Minor restorations, very minor damage due to age