清十八世紀 《百子圖》 設色紙本

ink and colour on paper, mounted on canvas, brightly painted depicting two ladies, one seated at a table with the auspicious 'hundred boys' joyfully engaged in various pursuits, some holding baskets of flowers, while some gather around a large fishbowl peering at their reflection, others playing with puppies and bats, all within a fenced lush garden with birds in pine trees

This work is composed of two horizontally joined sections that have been laid on silk and backed on to board. There is a vertical tear to the top right hand corner of the work 6cm an a buckled area around this. There are damaged areas to the left hand edge running 40cm into the work and an associated 10cm repaired horizontal tear running from this. There is a damaged and stained area below this that runs down to the bottom left hand corner. There are also a number of other repaired horizontal and vertical tears to the work in various areas and some areas where the paper surface has flaked/chipped off. There is also some general staining throughout which is consistent with its age.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

此畫描繪庭院仕女嬰戲圖，畫面溫馨動人，刻畫母子情深，唐代起文人畫中時有所見。長安城當時為世界上首屈一指的政治、文化與經濟中心，佛教與天主教中的幼童畫像因此傳入中土。從此作可見，唐代兼容並蓄，文化多元，為中國藝術帶來了黃金時代，並深刻影響中國歷史。母子主題不僅流傳久遠更廣受喜愛，孩童在畫中與母親寸步不離，只因後宮嬪妃地位與佛母相當，養育皇子皇女，延續天子血脈。

畫面上童子眾多，取婚事喜宴中常見「百子圖」之意。周朝文王膝下有子九十九，再收一養子即成百子，「百子圖」由此而來，寓意多子多孫、香火連綿、折桂登科的美好祝願。左側另有寓意祥瑞、童子捕捉五隻蝙蝠之「平安五福自天來」；及牡丹旁童子戲鯉，象徵「年年有餘」。

相類童子嬉戲場景入畫，可見清代作例《嬰戲圖》冊頁，曾為清宮珍藏，現寶蓄北京，載於2008年香港出版的《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集，明清風俗畫》第57頁，第56頁另有丁觀鵬所作一立軸《照盆嬰戲圖軸》，提款中提及嬰戲倒影圖之靈感源自宋朝畫家劉宗道。

尚有一大型宮廷畫《嬰戲圖》作例，出自冷枚（活躍於1700-1742年間）之手。畫中百子各自納福呈祥，其樂融融。該畫於2012年10月9日於倫敦蘇富比出售，編號3008。