Chinese School 20th Century

painted in 'boneless' style, depicting lush colorful peonies in full bloom with a bud beginning to unfurl, with an inscription by Puyi, the Xuantong emperor, dated in accordance with 1922, and a quatrain by Zu Ruyong, bearing five seals: Xuantong yubi zhibao, Xuan, tong, Zhu Ruyong yin, Nanzhai...hua

Chinese Paintings from the Henricksen Collection, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University; Tyler Art Gallery, State University of New York, Oswego, 5th September 2002 - 23rd February 2003, cat. no. 31, illustrated.

stained, inscription slightly smudged, small repair to upper less, minor pigment losses
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present work is a fascinating survival from the twilight of the Qing dynasty. It was probably commissioned by the Xuantong emperor, Puyi, best known as "The Last Emperor".  By the time this was painted in 1922, the emperor had been removed from power 11 years earlier, but had been allowed to retain the title of Emperor and remain in the Forbidden City with the remnants of a court. He was stripped of his title in 1924, ending thousands of years of imperial succession.