Zhao Mengfu

We authenticate, certify, issue certificates of authenticity (COA), appraise the value and broker the sale of paintings and calligraphic pages by ZHAO Mengfu.

Chinese

Born in 1254, Huzhou, China.

Died in 1322, Beijing, China, aged 68.

He spent his whole life in China.

Typical subject matter:

He typically painted horses and landscapes, but also distinguished himself in the field of flowers and birds. His horses are sometimes in groups and sometimes alone, often led by the figure of a man wearing traditional Chinese clothing. He eventually worked on motifs of bamboo and rock, which he integrated into a calligraphic style.

Typical style:

Although his brushstrokes are coarser than the other Chinese masters of his time, his style remains highly detailed and drawn. His figures tend to be highly realistic, although his depictions of horses and animals are sometimes anatomically uncanny. The animals and figures he depicted always seem very lively – they are pushed by the winds, they hoot, they bend, they shield their faces, they graze on the grass.

His longest, roll works are composed as lively friezes counting many figures.

Typical material and media:

He mostly worked in Indian and coloured ink on paper as well as on silk, often in rolls.

If you own a painting or a calligraphic page by or attributed to Zhao Mengfu, we would like to learn about it. Please send us photos or contact us at [email protected]. You will generally receive a response within 24 hours.