'BUDDHA AMITABHA', BY ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983) China. Ink, gilt, and watercolors on silk. Superbly painted with Buddha Amitabha seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne, with each of the overlapping petals showing the Three Jewels. He is wearing a loose-fitting monastic robe decorated with flowerheads and a broad waistband with lotus scroll. His chest is marked with a wan symbol. The serene face with a fine expression. All within a roundel above swirling clouds and below lotus blossoms falling from the sky.

Inscriptions: Signed 'Zhang Daqian'. Dedicated to a 'follower from Luojun'. Dated 'Summer of the Year of Bingxu' (corresponding to 1946). Three seals of the artist.

Provenance: UK trade, by repute acquired from a British private collection.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear, soiling, distinct foxing and minimal losses. With a Japanese silk brocade mounting and a kiri (paulownia) wood frame. The backside with a Japanese paper mounting that shows significant tears and losses.

Dimensions: Image size 61 x 24.5 cm, Size incl. frame 79 x 39.2 cm

Zhang Daqian was one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Originally known as a guohua (traditionalist) painter, by the 1960s he was also renowned as a modern impressionist and expressionist painter. In addition, he is regarded as one of the most gifted master forgers of the twentieth century. After the Communist Revolution in 1949, he left China and spent years living in South and North America, extensively touring Northern California. Zhang's first California solo exhibition in 1967 at Stanford University attracted an opening reception crowd of a thousand. Finally, he settled in Taipei, Taiwan in 1978. During his years of wandering, he had several wives simultaneously, curried favor with influential people, and maintained a large entourage of relatives and supporters. He also kept a pet gibbon. He affected the long robe and long beard of a traditional Chinese scholar.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Hong Kong, 2 June 2015, lot 1529
Price: HKD 5,440,000 or approx. EUR 779,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Buddha Amitabha
Expert remark: This painting is also dated 1946 by inscription and depicting Buddha Amitabha, albeit in a slightly different manner inspired by the Mogao caves. Note the size (97 x 49 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's Hong Kong, 30 November 2010, lot 2642
Price: HKD 2,780,000 or approx. EUR 486,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Worshipping Buddha and Bodhisattvas
Expert remark: Note the size (90 x 44.6 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 11 October 2021, lot 3094
Price: HKD 945,000 or approx. EUR 119,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien, 1899-1983), Bodhisattva
Expert remark: Note the size (49.5 x 39.5 cm).

張大千(1899-1983) 《阿彌陀佛像》
中國。絹本水墨設色，繪製阿彌陀佛坐蓮像，每瓣蓮瓣皆可見三寶。他身著寬鬆的袈裟，衣紋綫條流暢，胸口可見萬字元，面部表情平靜細膩， 身後有光背，下方可見如意祥雲。

款識：擬清人丁觀鵬佛造像，嵗在丙戌夏日，羅郡清信弟子大千張爰敬造
鈴印：大千毫髮，張大千，星閣

來源：英國古玩市場，據説來自英國私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，磨損、汙漬、明顯的修補和輕微缺損。日本絲織錦裝裱和桐木框架。背面有日本紙裝裱，明顯的撕裂和缺損。

尺寸：畫面61 x 24.5 厘米，總 79 x39.2 厘米

張大千是二十世紀最著名、最傑出的中國藝術家之一，國畫大師。到1960年代，他也以現代印象派和表現主義而聞名。1949 年共產主義革命後，他離開中國，在南美洲和北美洲生活了數年，並在北加州進行了廣泛的巡迴展出。1967 年，張大千在斯坦福大學的第一次加州個展開幕式吸引了1000多名觀眾。他於1978年定居臺北。在流浪的歲月裡，他同時娶了幾個妻子，結交重要人物，周圍一大群親戚和支持者。 他還養了一隻寵物長臂猿。 他一直深受中國傳統文人影響，喜著長袍留長鬚。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2015年6月2日，lot 1529
價格：HKD 5,440,000（相當於今日EUR 779,000）
描述：張大千《無量壽佛》
專家評論：這幅畫的年代也是1946年，畫的是無量壽佛，不過畫法與莫高窟略有不同。請注意尺寸(97 x 49厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2010年11月30日，lot 2642
價格：HKD 2,780,000（相當於今日EUR 486,000）
描述：張大千《龍女禮佛圖》
專家評論：請注意尺寸(90 x 44.6厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2021年10月11日，lot 3094
價格：HKD 945,000（相當於今日EUR 119,500）
描述：張大千《南無普賢菩薩》
專家評論：請注意尺寸(49.5 x 39.5厘米)。