ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Calligraphy in Various Scripts
A set of four hanging scrolls, ink on paper, each scroll signed and sealed by the artist, as follows, the first panel with a dedication to Xinwu, signed Zhang Yuan with two seals Zhang Ji and Daqian; the second scroll signed Daqian with two artist's seals Zhang Yuan and A Yuan; the third scroll signed Daqian with two artist's seals Zhang Yuan and Daqian Jushi; the fourth scroll signed Daqian Jushi, with two artist's seals Daqian and Jiyuan zhiyin, the outer titleslip of each inscribed by Tang Hong (1926-2018).
57 1/2 x 15 1/2in (146 x 39.3cm), each scroll (4).
Footnotes:
張大千 書法 水墨紙本 立軸四屏

識銘：
上有黃庭，下有關元。前有幽闕，後有命門。噓吸盧外，出入丹田。審能行之，可長存。與寉銘同一機杼也，臨似馨吾仁兄法正。蜀人張爰。鈐印：張季、大千

第一急就奇觚與眾異，羅列諸物名姓字，分別部居不雜廁，用日約勉力務。近傳急就章已非皇象法，因取漢人殘蕳陶器傳世者書代。大千。鈐印：張爰、阿爰

顏淑獨處，飄風暴雨，婦人乞宿，升堂入戶。燃蒸自燭，懼見意疑，未明蒸盡，摍笮續之。漢人小字刻石之精，無逾于此，考予擴大臨之，則似高麗好大王碑矣。大千。鈐印：張爰、大千居士

廿六年，皇帝盡並兼天下，諸矦黔首不安，立號為皇帝，乃詔城鄉狀綰，灋度量。權量詔版，斯自書自刻，英鷙之氣當可想見。大千居士。鈐印：季爰之印、大千

Provenance:
Acquired in Hong Kong, 1963, through Tang Hong (1926-2018)

來源：
1963年由唐鴻（1926-2018）購於香港

This impressive four panel calligraphic work demonstrates a young Zhang Daqian writing in various script styles. Having studied calligraphy with both Zeng Xi (1861-1930) and Li Ruiqing (1867-1920), Zhang Daqian transmits not only the early script forms from past centuries, but also the methods of his teachers. The individual brushstrokes are elegantly strong and smoothly rounded, and at other times the lifting and application of the brush exaggerated, mimicking the stone-carved aesthetic of Northern Steles.

Mark Pratt was first introduced to Zhang Daqian in Tokyo at the Confucian Temple (Yushima Seido) in the late 1950's. As Mr. Pratt had Chinese language skills from his US State Department training, the two were able to converse. This remarkable four panel group was acquired by Mr. Pratt in 1963, a few years after their initial meeting, through his close friend and advisor Tang Hong (1926-2019), who was a student of Zhang Daqian's in the late 1940's. Tang Hong successfully secured several Zhang Daqian works for Mark Pratt's collection over the years, and in addition to this lot, lots 388, 389, and 390 in this auction were also through Tang Hong.

As well, the massive Lotus in the Wind and Rain, 1940 by Zhang Daqian, donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2015 by Mark Pratt, was also acquired in Hong Kong through Tang Hong, although two years earlier, in 1961.

此四幀法書以四體寫之，可窺張大千早年習書所下功夫。其1919年旅日歸來回，先後拜入曾熙（1861-1930）及李瑞清（1867-1920）門下學習書法，因而其書風中不僅有臨習碑帖後所得之古人遺韻，亦有曾李師門之新風。此四幀書法便可見其運筆時而蘊剛勁於秀雅盈厚中，時而現金石之遒爽於鉤提頓挫外。

二十世紀五十年代末，班立德總領事（Mark Pratt）初識張大千於東京孔廟湯島聖堂。由於班先生得職務之便，在美國國務院學過中文，因而二人可無礙交流。此四幀法書條屏乃與張大千初見數年後，於1963年由班先生之知交及顧問唐鴻（1926-2019）為其購得，唐鴻於二十世紀四十年代末拜入張大千門下。除此四條屏外，唐鴻亦為班先生購藏不少其它張大千書畫作品，如本場拍賣中的拍品388、389及390號。

班立德總領事於2015年向波士頓美術館所捐贈的張大千1940年所作巨幅風荷，即唐鴻於1961年在香港為其購藏。

Please Note: This condition report describes, but is not limited to, major condition issues with this lot.

Overall in very good condition. However there are several horizontal creases to the lightly toned paper. A few small stains on the paper and the surrounding mounting.