Watercolor and ink on paper, hanging scroll, featuring Confucius, signed and attr. Fan Zeng (Chinese, b.1936), inscribed with 2 artist seals, 135 x 67 cm. Fan Zeng is contemporary Chinese artist known for his mastery of traditional Chinese painting techniques. His works fuse elements of landscape, flower-and-bird, and figure painting, as well as forms of poetry and calligraphy. Born on July 5, 1938 in Nantong, China, he attended the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied painting under Wu Zuoren, Li Keran, Jiang Zhaohe, and Li Kuchan. The artist notably went on to live between his home country and France, where he notably painted a portrait of Charles de Gaulle. He held solo exhibitions in Japan throughout the 1980s, and participated in various exhibitions in Asia. In addition, he has received numerous awards in design and painting. He became a professor of Eastern Art at Nankai University, and was made department head in 1993. The artist currently lives and works in Beijing, China.

All authorship of items in this catalog are described according to the following terms:

By [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work is by the artist.

Attributed to [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

In the manner of [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work was executed by an unknown hand, but was designed deliberately to emulate the style of the artist.

After [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work was executed by an unknown hand, but is a deliberate copy of a known work by the artist.

Circle of [Artist Name] : In our opinion, a work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil.

Follower of [Artist Name]: In our opinion, a work by a pupil or a follower of the artist (not necessarily a pupil).

American, 19th century : In our opinion, this work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).

Bears signature : In our opinion, the signature on the artwork may be spurious.
Apocryphal : Of doubtful authenticity.