Collection returns home

Fifty ancient Chinese painting masterpieces are being brought home after more than half a century overseas.

The exhibits, from the private collection of Qing Dynasty official and scholar Weng Tonghe (1830-1904), belong to his great-great-grandson Weng Wan-go and date back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). With literati paintings and calligraphy works of the Ming and Qing Dynasties dominant, the collection reflects the taste and cultural background of the Weng Family.

Highlights include Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1729) court painter Liang Kai's fine-brush scroll portrait of a Supreme Taoist Master; Ming Dynasty Wen Zhengming's calligraphy letters to his sons; Qing Dynasty Wang Yuanqi's blue-and-green vertical scroll Du Fu poetic landscape, in which luxuriant trees and vegetation growth are emphasized; plus works by great artists like Shen Zhou, Tang Yin, Dong Qichang, Zhu Da and Jin Nong.