ZHAO YIJIONG (1857-1906) Running-cursive Script Calligraphy

ZHAO YIJIONG (1857-1906)
Running-cursive Script Calligraphy
Hanging scroll, ink on coloured patterned paper
155.3 x 39.8 cm. (61 1⁄8 x 15 5⁄8 in.)
Inscribed and signed by the artist
Dedicated to Zhuosheng
NOTE:
Zhao Yijiong (1857-1906) was born in Guizhou, originally from Jiangxi Province. He was a government official in the Qing court, and was the first person who achieved the first ranked scholar (Zhuangyuan) of the imperial examination in the twenty-sixth year of the Guangxu Period (1886).

Provenance
Singaporean collector Mr. Tan Sin Liou (1922-1992) had familial ties to Fujian, China. His grandfather immigrated to Singapore, where he operated a palm tree business, later also became the owner of the Supreme House in the city’s commercial district. Apart from his entrepreneurial pursuits, Mr. Tan held a keen interest in traditional Chinese culture, as evidenced by his collection of Chinese calligraphy, paintings, and folding fans. Since the 1960s, numerous painters such as Zhao Shao’ang, Yang Shanshen, Guan Shanyue, Li Xiongcai, and Rong Shushi showcased their works in Singapore due to its proximity to China. Mr. Tan, recognized for his generosity and hospitality towards these artists, notably fostered a close relationship with Yang Shanshen.