China. Ink and watercolors on cloth. Boldly painted with vigorous brushstrokes to depict the Eight Immortals (baxian), with Zhang Guolao smiling as he sits on his donkey, next to a standing Li Tieguai carrying his iron crutch with the double gourd at the top. Two further immortals are seated together, one playing with his beard, while another sleeps blissfully on a craggy rock, behind a female immortal looking into the distance, and two standing immortals examining a rock.

Inscriptions: To the top, ‘Painting of the Baxian. According to legend, the Eight Immortals crossed the ocean. Later it was said that everybody used their talents or skills to achieve a common goal. In the Year of Yihai corresponding to 1995, in Shiguzhai in Jinling (Nanjing).’ Two seals of the artist: ‘Qingmao lüesi’ and ‘Wo jian qingshan duo wumei’.

Provenance: From a private collection in Germany, by repute acquired directly from the artist in China, and thence by descent. According to the previous owner’s son, the present work was painted in front of him for his father, who lived in China at the time. The owner made this testimonial during a German television show, the video is accessible here: https://www.zdf.de/show/bares-fuer-rares/bares-fuer-rares-vom-11-november-2022-100.html (the sequence starts at minute 18:30).
Condition: Generally in fine condition with some wear, soiling, some water stains, the edges with small holes from wall mounting.

Dimensions: Image size 184 x 76 cm, Total size 224 x 88.5 cm

The Baxian (Eight Immortals) are a legendary group of Chinese heroes who fight to vanquish evil. Popular during the Tang and Shang dynasties, the Eight Immortals were said to live on a group of five islands in the Bohai Sea. Their stories were first recorded by the Ming dynasty poet Wu Yuantai. Their status as fabled folk icons makes them well-known in popular culture.

Fan Zeng (b. 1938) is a contemporary master of traditional Chinese painting, best known for his skillfully executed figural works. Born in Jiangsu, he studied history, literature, painting, and calligraphy, before enrolling at Nankai University. In 1957, he attended the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied painting under Wu Zuoren, Li Keran, Jiang Zhaohe, and Li Kuchan. In addition, he has received numerous awards in design and painting. From 1962, Fan worked at the National Museum of Chinese History. In the late 1970s, he taught at the Central Academy of Arts and Design. In the 1980s, Fan founded the Oriental Art Department at Nankai University and became the dean of the department in 1993. At the age of 63, he was elected as the head of the Nankai University Museum of Antiquities and graduate advisor in both the Fine Arts and Literature departments. His works fuse elements of landscape, flower-and-bird, and figure painting, as well as forms of poetry and calligraphy. His paintings of ancient figures are famous for their simple yet vivid style and vigorous brushstrokes. He held solo exhibitions in Japan throughout the 1980s and participated in various exhibitions in Asia. In 1984, a permanent museum was built in Japan to house his works.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 6 October 2019, lot 2775
Price: HKD 7,375,000 or approx. EUR 941,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Fan Zeng, Eight Immortals
Expert remark: Note that this lot comprises a set of four hanging scrolls painted on paper, the largest 143.2 x 95.1 cm



范曾（1938- ）《八仙圖》，1995年
中國，布面水墨設色。以中國八仙的傳說為主體人物而創作的，筆勢豪放雄健，張果老笑瞇瞇地騎在驢背，身旁站著李鐵拐，手執雙葫蘆鐵拐杖。身側兩位仙人，一個玩著他的鬍子，而另一個幸福地躺在一塊崎嶇的岩石上。人物構圖嚴謹，筆墨灑脫，痛快淋漓。

款識：八仙圖，傳説□有八仙渡海，慶壽後□，多以八仙過海，喻各顯神通，盡其智慮以成大業，乙亥年師古齋並寫於金陵；鈴印：我見青山多嫵媚，情貌略似，陳□春印

來源：德國私人收藏，據説在中國直接購於藝術家處，保存至今。根據這位先生在電視節目中敘述，藝術家當著他的面為他的父親做了這幅畫。當時，他的父親生活在中國。相關視頻：https://www.zdf.de/show/bares-fuer-rares/bares-fuer-rares-vom-11-november-2022-100.html (開始於18:30處).
品相：狀況良好，有一些磨損、髒污、水漬，邊緣有用於懸掛所做的小孔。

尺寸：畫面184 x 76 厘米，總 224 x 88.5 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2019年10月6日，lot 2775
價格：HKD 7,375,000（相當於今日EUR 941,000）
描述：范曾八仙圖 | 設色紙本四聯屏，一九八二年作
專家評論：請注意此為紙本設色四幅畫一組，最大一幅的是143.2 x 95.1 厘米。