Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Catalogue 14

Author: Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Appraisal Group
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-02-01
Features: Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Party and the government have always attached great importance to the cause of cultural relics. During the lifetime of the beloved Premier Zhou Enlai, he was particularly concerned about it. From the 1950s to the early 1960s, national cultural relic authorities vigorously purchased cultural relics and enacted laws to prevent their export. Many collectors, driven by patriotic enthusiasm, donated their collections to the state. As a result, the holdings of calligraphy and painting in museums continued to grow, and appraisal work became urgently needed. At that time, an appraisal team was formed to work in various regions. However, soon after the Ten-Year Turmoil, Premier Zhou passed away unexpectedly, and this work came to a halt. Since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party, efforts have been made from all aspects to rectify the chaos and fulfill Premier Zhou's. The Catalog of Fine Ancient Chinese Books and Manuscripts has begun to take shape. Recently, the appraisal of calligraphy and painting has once again received the support of Comrade Gu Mu and Comrade Deng Liqun. In June 1983, with the approval of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Culture established the Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Appraisal Group to conduct a comprehensive and systematic investigation, appraisal, and compilation of existing ancient calligraphy and painting across the country, publishing catalogs, image catalogs, and large-scale art albums. The purpose and role of this appraisal have four aspects: First, to investigate the condition of calligraphy and painting held by cultural relic departments and cultural and educational organizations across the country; second, to assist units in appraising their collections, distinguishing between fine and mediocre works, and identifying authenticity; third, to provide appraisal and evaluation for some private collections; and fourth, to fundamentally determine the authenticity of calligraphy and painting, rank them, and thereby better protect cultural relics, provide rich material for art history researchers, and enhance the scientific rigor of their research. It is also planned to train a group of young and middle-aged professionals through this work, establishing a team for calligraphy and painting appraisal. In coordination with this appraisal work, three books will be published: First, an account-style catalog of works appraised as genuine, which will include most of them, titled Catalog of Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting; second, selected outstanding works reproduced in monochrome plates, titled Catalog of Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Images; third, selected finest and most important masterpieces, compiled into specialized albums of calligraphy and painting. The Catalog of Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting and Catalog of Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Images adopt a method of compiling and publishing as the appraisal progresses. They are arranged in chronological order of appraisal and grouped by the institutions holding the works. Within each group, the works are ordered by the era of the authors. In the future, once the appraisal work is completed and all catalogs are compiled, a comprehensive index will be published to facilitate reference.