Xu Beihong oil painting “slaves and lions” after 15 years to reappear in the auction market.
Christie’s held a press conference in Hong Kong on May 19, said that May 24 will be dedicated to the auction of Xu Beihong’s 1920 national treasure painting “Slaves and Lions”, the estimated auction price of 350 million to 450 million (Hong Kong dollars, the same below, about 45.2 million to 58.1 million U.S. dollars), becoming the highest estimate in the history of Asian art, and challenge Zao Wou-ki the world auction record of 510 million yuan (about $65.88 million) for a Chinese oil painting set in 2018.
Christie’s said that the painting “Slave and Lion” was created by Xu Beihong during his stay in Berlin in the early 1920s, with reference to the Berlin Zoo. The painting depicts the Roman Empire era, a lion to save its slave to repay the story, is Xu Beihong’s only combination of animals and people’s paintings. 2006 in Hong Kong to 53.9 million yuan (about 6.963 million U.S. dollars) auction, then broke the record of Taiwan’s former painter Chen Chengbo, set the highest price ever Chinese oil painting auction record.
The story of “The Slave and the Lion” originates from an ancient Roman legend and Aesop’s fable – a runaway slave is captured by his master and is about to be executed by a lion in the Colosseum, but instead of attacking him, the lion recognizes him with warmth. It turns out that the slave had saved the lion by calling out the thorns on his paws for him on the way, and the story touched everyone. In the end, both the slave and the lion regained their freedom. The humanistic spirit of mutual salvation is promoted.
In the painting, the lion is injured and seeks help, but his majestic and self-respecting look symbolizes justice and friendliness, and has become a symbol of national spirit; while the bullying slave is unafraid and fraternal, which also shows the vitality and divine glory, and has become a symbol of national image.
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