‘SCHOLAR READING A SCROLL’, LATE MING TO EARLY QING DYNASTY China, 16^th-17^th century. Ink on very fine silk. Remarkably detailed painting depicting a bearded scholar wearing voluminous robes and a prominent headdress, holding a fan in one hand, seated on a barrel stool at a table and reading a scroll unrolled before him.

Provenance: From an English private collection.
Condition: Good condition, as expected and commensurate with age. With old wear and traces of use, soiling, browning, foxing, creasing, small losses, minor touchups.

Dimensions: Image size 59 x 42.7 cm, Size incl. mounting 78 x 68.7 cm

A stack of books rests beside the scroll, a small censer on an incense stand (xiangji) as well as further scrolls, a lacquer box, various vessels, and other scholar’s objects on a high table behind a standing screen painted in magnificent quality with crashing waves, all behind a large curtain with floral roundels to the right side.

With an imperial yellow silk brocade frame, laid down on board.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related silk painting of a scholar and students, dated late 15^th-16^th century, at Bonhams New York in Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy on 20 March 2013, lot 3013, sold for USD 62,500.

明末清初《文人觀畫圖》
中國，十六至十七世紀。絹本水墨。文人坐於書房内，一手持扇一手按著面前的一幅畫。四周場景描寫細緻入微。

來源：英國私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，符合預期並與年齡相稱。有磨損和使用痕跡、污漬、褐變、起毛、摺痕、小缺損、輕微修飾。

尺寸：畫面59 x 42.7 厘米, 總78 x 68.7 厘米

絹本裝裱。

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相似的十五至十六世紀絹本《文人書生圖》，見紐約邦翰思Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy 2013年3月20日 lot 3013, 售價USD 62,500。