18c Chinese Portrait of Lu Dongbin, Taoist Deity, One of the Eight Immortals, in Watercolor, Tempura and Gold Leaf on Paper

Item Details

An auspicious 18th century watercolor, tempura and gold leaf on rice paper portrait of Taoist deity Lu Dongbin, depicted as a scholar, seated on a carved throne, with a marble dreamstone panel at this back, a halo surrounding his head. The figure, with an unusual form of a scholar’s hat carries his sword on his back and his fly whisk in his hand, his robes quite ethereal in a champagne color with gold leaf cloud and longevity symbols. A simple gorgeous piece, the deity seated in meditation at the entrance to a draped building; bordered by gold silk. Housed in a much more contemporary gilt and green wooden molding frame. The piece was purchased in the 1960’s at auction in Dayton, Ohio,formerly having graced the walls of Winters Mansion. The Winters family, owners of the Winters National Bank were the forebears of comedian Jonathan Winters. The owner has stated that he and Jonathan Winters had spoken several times of this piece, as well as lot 002.

Condition

Intact, though a bit dark, with a number of creases with breaks in the paper, yet a phenomenal piece.

Dimensions

Item #

13CIN045-001