je 20 x 12,2 cm Condition In the style of Jin Shi. Famous Persons of History without Parallels (Wushuang pu), China, Qing dynasty. Album with 39 Double Leaves, each illustration 20 x 12,2 cm, ink on paper. The double leaves are signed after the poems: "Shetang" or "Shutang". Followed by the seals: "Zhang", "shutang", "Shetang", "Zhang sheng" etc. Introduction by Jin Shi at the end of the album, signed: "Written by Nanling Jin Guliang in the pavilion of spring wind in Dengzhou". Five seals: "Seal of Shetang Zhang Jinren" (Shetang Zhang Jinren yin) etc. Colophon by Zhang Zhuqiao in seal script, signed: "Written by Zhuqiao Zhang shi". Two seals: "Zhuqiao Zhang shi", "jia zai cishui zhuqiao xi". The famous album of Jin Shi consists originally of forty double leaves. Here one leaf has been taken out in the middle of the album. It shows illustrations of forty famous heroes, poets, philosophers, women etc. of Chinese history like Xiang Yu, Fu Sheng, Sun Wu, Sima Qian, Tao Yuanming, Mu Lan, Li Taibo, Yue Fei and others. The figures are executed in fine line drawing with strong shading around the outlines. They are accompanied by poems in the yuefu style on the opposite leaf set in decorative, painted frames. Jin Shi, style names Guliang and Nanling, was a prominent figure painter in the second half of the 17th century and a good calligrapher and poet also. This album of forty figures is his most famous work-Property from an European private collection, bougth from Sothebys London, 16.5.2012-Minor traces of age, very minor restorations.