Author:Chen Ding-Shan

Size:Length:218 x Width:52 (cm)

Size description：138×37 (218×52)

Introduction：Chen Ding-Shan (1897-1987), originally named Qi and also known as Qu, had other names such as Dieye, Xiaodie, and Gongxi. He also went by the pseudonyms Dieye, Zuilingsheng, and after he turned forty, he adopted the name Dingshan. In his later years, he signed his works as Dinggong, Dingshanren, and Yonghe Old Man. Born in Qiantang (now Hangzhou), he was a Taiwanese painter, calligrapher, and art appraiser. He studied poetry, literature and painting from the age of ten. He later attended the University of Law and Politics and St. John's University, but his interest soon turned to literary creation. He was a frequent contributor to Shanghai magazines such as Fiction Monthly, Game Magazine, and the supplement section of Shenbao. Together with Zheng Wu-Chang, Sun Xue-Ni and Li Zu-Han, he founded the Hanwen Bookstore in Shanghai.

In the field of fine arts, Chen joined the Tianma Association in 1919 and was the editor-in-chief of the special issue for the First National Art Exhibition in 1929. In 1935, when artifacts from the National Palace Museum were exhibited in London, Chen was appointed to the committee to oversee the exhibition, along with Pang Lai-Chen, Wu Hu-Fan, Ye Gong-Chuo, Xu Bang-Da, and Wang Ji-Qian. He served on the boards of the China Painting Association and the Shanghai Art Association. In 1948 he moved to Taiwan and worked at Chung Hsing University and Tamkang College of Arts and Sciences. In his spare time, he frequently published essays on art history, poetry and fiction in the supplements of newspapers such as the Economic Times and the Financial Times. In his later years, he wrote "Dingshan on Painting" (1969), a culmination of his related works, along with other published works such as "Biographies of Renowned Painters of the Past Century", "Recent News from the Art World", and "Old News from Chunshe". He has held several solo exhibitions in places such as Taipei and South Korea.

Chen Ding-Shan was not only skilled in painting and calligraphy, but he also excelled in poetry. In addition, he was an expert in art evaluation, especially the works of the "Four Wangs" of the early Qing Dynasty, Wu, Yun, and the painters of the Shanghai School such as Ren Bo-Nian. His paintings were mainly landscapes and flowers. This work depicted a cliff with a waterfall cascading down with breathtaking momentum; at the top of the cliff were several green pine trees and a single temple, standing alone in its magnificent isolation, evoking a sublime and remote atmosphere. With his concise brush and ink technique, his works exude a unique personality. 

Accession Number:PT06903600