Ancient Temple in the Mountains

GAO JIANFU (1879-1951)
Ancient Temple in the Mountains
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
112.7 x 40.4 cm. (44 ³⁄₈ x 15 ⁷⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated winter, thirty-second year (of the Republic, 1943)

The present collection has been thoughtfully assembled by Bill and Wea Sun Wong, the proprietors of Asia Book Store, one of San Francisco’s pioneering Chinese language bookshops located on Washington Street in the city’s Chinatown. Originally from Taishan, the Wongs arrived in San Francisco in the early 1950s, bringing with them an appreciation for Chinese art and culture. Bolstered by their extensive networks within the literary circles of China and Hong Kong, the Wongs embarked on a collecting journey throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Known for their leadership within the Chinese American community, the collectors often welcomed visiting artists from Asia. The cherished collection has remained in the family since.