‘LANDSCAPE’, BY PU RU (1896-1963)China. Ink and watercolors on paper. Depicting an autumnal scene with pavilions nestled between pine trees and rocks above a river, the background with mountains picked out in blue and salmon.Inscriptions: Top right, signed ‘Pu Ru’, and inscribed ‘In the mountains are thickly overgrown trees, many pines, the fog rises. One climbs into a gazebo to drink alone. The frost shields the moon. One hears the heavenly rooster singing.’ Two seals of the artist, ‘Xinshe’ and ‘Pu Ru zhi yin’.Provenance: British trade.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, little foxing, and soiling. The frame with a few nicks, minor losses, and splits.Dimensions: Size incl. frame 56.7 x 47.8 cm, Image size 39.5 x 31 cmFramed behind glass. (2)Pu Ru (1896-1963), also known as Pu Xinshe, was a traditional Chinese painter, calligrapher, and nobleman. A member of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, the ruling house of the Qing dynasty, he was a cousin to Puyi, the last Emperor of China. It was speculated that Pu Ru would have succeeded to the Chinese throne if Puyi and the Qing government were not overthrown after the 1911 Xinhai Revolution. Pu Ru was reputed to be as talented as the famous southern artist Zhang Daqian. Together, they became known as ‘Pu of the North and Zhang of the South’. Pu Ru fled to Taiwan after themunist Party of China came to power and was appointed by Chiang Kai-shek as a Manchu representative at the Constitutional National Assembly. In Taiwan, he made a living selling paintings and calligraphy, and taught as a professor of fine arts at the National Taiwan Normal University.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: San Francisco, 16 December 2014, lot 8399Price: USD 11,250 or approx.EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Pu Ru (1896-1963), LandscapeExpert remark:pare the related motif and manner of painting. Note the size (127.5 x 47.5cm).Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 13 September 2018, lot 587Price: USD 20,000 or approx.EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: Pu Ru 1896-1963, landscape with pavilionExpert remark:pare the related motif and manner of painting. Note the size (92.7 x 33 cm).溥儒(1896-1963)款《亂峰積翠》中國，紙本設色。秋日山景，蜿蜒層層山間亭台樓閣聳立。款識：亂峰積翠白，低松際，浮煙與岸齊幽，人登樓，獨醉飲，曉霜遮月聼天雞雲。心畲。鈴印：心畲，溥儒之印