‘DUCKLINGS AND WISTERIA’, BY LOU SHIBAI (1918-2010)China. Ink and watercolors on paper, with a silk brocade frame and mounted as a hanging scroll. Depicting three ducklings under low-hanging branches of wisteria issuing blue and violet flowers as they curiously examine a fallen wisteria blossom.Inscriptions: Top right, inscribed ‘Spring is in full swing’, signed ‘Lou Shibai’. One seal of the artist, ‘Shibai’. Provenance: British trade. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, some foxing, little creasing, and small tears.Dimensions: Image size 92.7 x 50 cm, Size incl. mounting 220.5 x 63.7 cmLou Shibai (1918-2010) was a Chinese painter born in Beijing. He was Qi Baishi’s apprentice for 25 years, learning the arts of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and carving at his master’s home from age 14 until Baishi’s death in 1957. He is considered an important successor of Qi Baishi who nonetheless was innovative in his own themes and techniques. Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: China Guardian, Beijing, 15 September 2012, lot 15Price: CNY 184,000 or approx. EUR 32,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Wisteria and Duck (1984), Lou Shibai (1918-2010)Expert remark: Compare the closely related motif and size (103 x 56 cm)Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: China Guardian, Beijing, 17 December 2011, lot 617Price: CNY 97,750 or approx. EUR 17,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Duck and Wisteria, Lou Shibai (1918-2010)Expert remark: Compare the closely related motif and size (97 x 60 cm)婁師白 (1918-2010)《春酣》中國，紙本水墨設色，掛軸。三隻小鴨子在紫藤下嬉戲，它們正好奇地審視著一朵凋落的紫藤花。 款識：春酣，婁師白並篆；鈴印：師白 來源：英國古玩交易。 品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損、一些褶皺和小撕裂。 尺寸：畫面92.7 x 50 厘米，總220.5 x 63.7 厘米婁師白1918年生於北京；1942年畢業於輔仁大學美術系，專事繪畫；全面繼承齊白石藝術技法特色，畫作簡練，生機勃勃，尤以畫小鴨子著稱。拍賣結果比較： 形制：非常相近 拍賣：中國嘉德，2012年9月15日，lot 15 價格：CNY 184,000（相當於今日EUR 32,500） 描述：婁師白《紫藤與鴨》 專家評論：比較非常相近的主題和尺寸 (103 x 56 厘米) 。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：非常相近 拍賣：中國嘉德，2011年12月17日，lot 617 價格：CNY 97,750（相當於今日EUR 17,500） 描述：婁師白《紫藤與鴨》 專家評論：比較非常相近的主題和尺寸 (97 x 60 厘米)。