Chinese Paintings – Modern

Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Paintings Department offers fine works from 19th century to the modern era, which emphasise the importance of traditional and modern artistic styles and underline the connection between poetry, calligraphy, painting and the artist’s seal.

The expertise of Sotheby’s Chinese Paintings specialists is widely recognised throughout Asia and, as a result, our team has been entrusted with the sale of many rare and high-quality works from revered masters, from late Qing dynasty artists including He Shaoji, Dai Xi, Wu Dacheng, Lu Hui, Kang Youwei to modern masters Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Fu Baoshi, Pan Tianshou, Li Keran, Xu Beihong and Wu Guanzhong. This department has offered such celebrated single-owner collections as the record-breaking Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien, the three-part Important Chinese Paintings from The Robert Chang Collection, and The Vermillion Pavillion Collection of 20th Century Fine Chinese Paintings.

The success of our team is written in the auction results every season, as Sotheby’s Chinese Paintings has emerged as the market leader for five consecutive years. The numbers tell the story of our leadership in the field, as Sotheby’s auctions have set the highest standards for curation and acumen, consistently creating more value with a higher sell-through rate than our nearest competitors.

Dedicated auctions for Modern Chinese Paintings are held in Hong Kong during April and October. In advance of our sales, our team of internationally recognised specialists would be delighted to provide you with a free and confidential valuation. Find out how to receive an estimate of your scroll, calligraphy, or painting with Sotheby's.