A Chinese Ming dynasty painting by classical master Shitao valued at almost $15.5 million will be auctioned next month by Christie's, which said the work was the most valuable Chinese painting ever to be put under the hammer in Hong Kong. “Landscapes Inspired by Du Fu's Poetic Sensibilities” is an album of eight ink and colour works on paper and is among a group of more than 400 rare Chinese paintings and calligraphy works valued at a total of more than $45 million to be offered at Christie's Hong Kong 2010 Spring sales on May 28. Shitao, a renowned scholar-artist, was one of the most influential painters of his time who had a major impact on subsequent Chinese ink and brush artists. Shitao died in 1707.
