A prominent auctioneer confirmed with China.org.cn today that several of Wu Guanzhong's pictures will soon be up for sale, including his masterpiece ink and color painting Yellow Earth Plateau (Huang Tu Gao Yuan), valued at 15-25 million yuan (US$1.8-3.0 million).

Rongbao Auction House, one of the five major auctioneers in China along with China Guardian, China Sungari, Hanhai and Huachen, said the sale would take place in the Beijing Asian Hotel on May 15.

Besides Wu Guanzhong's work, the 600 lots will include Portrait of Du Fu (Du Fu Xing Yin Tu) by Fu Baoshi, valued at 3-5 million yuan (US$362,300-603,850), and cartoonist Ye Qianyu's Escape from Hong Kong (Tao Li Xiang Gang). The total estimated value of the sale is 150 million yuan (US$18.1 million).

Rongbao sources said Wu's works have been of the most interest to bidders. On December 18, 2004, his Duckling in the Pond (He Tang Xiao Ya) was sold at 6.6 million yuan (US$797,000), far exceeding expectations of raising 1.8-2.8 million yuan (US$217,000-338,000).

The record price for a Chinese painting is 69.3 million yuan (US$8.37 million), set by Lu Yanshao's Landscape After Ancient Poet Du Fu (Du Fu Shi Yi Bai Kai Hua Che) at Hanhai's spring auctions on June 26, 2004.

The second highest was 50 million yuan (US$6.0 million), set by Ode to Peace (He Ping Song) on November 20 the same year and co-produced by 22 masters of Chinese painting.

Wu was born in Yixing, south China's Jiangsu Province, in 1919. He is a leading master of 20th century Chinese painting, and one of the few Chinese artists to have established a reputation both at home and abroad.

(China.org.cn by Wind Gu April 20, 2005)