When art gets a dose of generosity

A selection of these paintings and calligraphic works from Zhejiang Art Museum is now on display at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing. Lin Qi traces their history.

Shortly after the opening of the Hangzhou-based Zhejiang Art Museum in 2009, the staff was contacted by the families of Fu Juanfu (1910-2007) in the United States. They hoped to make a considerable donation to the museum including Fu's artworks and his art collection.

Fu, who was trained to be a calligrapher and ink-brush painter from childhood, grew up in a neighborhood on Nanshan Street which is close to West Lake. It is the same street where the Zhejiang Art Museum is located.