故宮名畫三百種 Ku Kung Ming Hua San Pai Chung (Three Hundred Masterpieces of Chinese Painting in the Palace Museum). 6 vols.
(台中) Taichung: 國立故宮中央博物院共同理事會 Joint Board of Directors of National Palace Museum/National Central Museum, 1959. Ex-Library, Limited First Edition. Hardcover. 577/1500. Elephant Folio (17 1/2 x 12 1/2"). Prospectus: 2 text leaves + 2 plates, each with corresponding tissue guards with printed text in Chinese and English. Volumes: 49pp, 5pp, 5pp, 5pp, 6pp, 7pp (9) pages of text + 300 illustrated plates throughout the volumes. Original blue cloth portfolios with ivory clasps and black lettering on cream paper label of covers, housing six volumes with illustrated, string-bound brown silk with black lettering on cream paper labels of covers, plus an additional prospectus with illustrated brown wraps and black lettering. Silk endpapers. The paper used in reproducing the paintings is special handmade Japanese paper, bound into six volumes in Chinese style, with silk covers modeled after an ancient Song design of Khe-Ssu (Chinese tapestry).
A selection of three hundred masterpieces from the former Imperial Palace in Beijing, which now form part of the great treasure of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. The nucleus of the Palace collection began with the Southern Sung Dynasty, and has a history of seven hundred years at the least. Additions made by Yüan, Ming and Ching emperors combined to produce this unique collection of Chinese art. The 300 pictures in this publication are carefully selected from the one thousand and three hundred great pictures now in the custody of the said Museum. The artworks are reproduced in b/w collotypes and as well as some color offset prints, all printed on handmade Japanese paper, with printed tissue guards.
Upwards of 140 pieces came from the hand of Tang, Five Dynasties and Sung artists, including artist like Yen Li-pen, Li Su-hsun, Li Chao-tao, Lu Hung (Tang), Li Tsan-hua, Ching Hao, Kuan Tung, L Po, Tung Yüan (Five Dynasties), Li Cheng, Fan Kuan, Hui Ch'ung, Ch'i Hsu, and Yen Wen-kuei, among others. More than 60 masterpieces are credited to artists of the Yüan period, including Kao Ke-kung, Chao Meng-fu, and Huang Kung-wang, among others. Ming and early Ching artists are represented by eighty-four pictures. The selection amply represents landscape, human figure, still life and architectural paintings, and the extraordinary color reproductions are mostly reproduced here for the first time.
The text in Chinese and English includes critical and biographical comments, including remarks on the artists' style and characteristics as well as detailed information regarding size and content of the paintings, the artist's signature, inscriptions, and seals of the artist and collectors.
Portfolio covers lightly rubbed with some sunning at bottom and spines. Ex-Libris pasted to inside front covers with additional Ex-Libris plates tipped into each volume at gutter of title page. Portfolios in overall good+ to very good, bindings and interior of all six volumes in fine condition. Very good to fine. Item #41253
Price: $1,750.00