91 x 40,3 cm Condition Xu Shichang (1855-1939), China, 20th ct., Ink Orchids. Hanging scroll, ink on silk, Signature by the artist: "Hidden Fragrance. Shuizhu cunren." Two seals: "Seal of Xu Shichang" (Xu Shichang yin), "Shimen shanren". Xu Shichang, alias Shuizhu cun ren, was a scholar and official from Tianjin. He was a member of the Hanlin Academy in the Qing dynasty and became prime minister in 1918. In 1922 he retired and devoted himself to poetry, painting and calligraphy. He excelled in the classic genres of the literati painter like chrysanthemums, pines, peonies and orchids.-Acquired at Nagel, Stuttgart, 18th May 2006, auction 32A, no. 2052-Few folds