Sanyu

(Chinese/French, 1901–1966)

Sanyu was a Chinese-French artist that created prints, drawings, and paintings. His work fused the histories of European still-life and figurative painting with the traditions of Chinese calligraphy. Considered a master of form and color, he was sometimes referred to as “the Chinese Matisse.” Born Chang Yu on October 14, 1901 in Nanchong, China, he was tutored in calligraphy and painting from a young age. In 1921, he travelled to Paris to study at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. While in Paris, he discovered the work of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. In 1948, Sanyu travelled to New York where he became a close friend of the photographer Robert Frank. It was Frank who later established the Sanyu Scholarship Fund at Yale University in his honor. Today, a large quantity of his work can be found in the collection of the National Museum of History in Taiwan. The artist died in his studio on August 12, 1966 in Paris, France.

Sanyu Artworks

Sanyu (1,625 results)
Seated Man

Sanyu

Seated Man

Sale Date: May 25, 2014

Auction Closed

Seated Woman

Sanyu

Seated Woman

Sale Date: May 25, 2014

Auction Closed

Standing Nude

Sanyu

Standing Nude

Sale Date: May 25, 2014

Auction Closed

Potted Chrysanthemums, 1950–1959

Sanyu

Potted Chrysanthemums, 1950–1959

Sale Date: May 24, 2014

Auction Closed

White Peony with four ponies

Sanyu

White Peony with four ponies

Sale Date: May 17, 2014

Auction Closed

女人体 (Female nude)

Sanyu

女人体 (Female nude)

Sale Date: April 7, 2014

Auction Closed

Nude

Sanyu

Nude

Sale Date: April 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Standing nude

Sanyu

Standing nude

Sale Date: April 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Sitting nude

Sanyu

Sitting nude

Sale Date: April 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Pekinese on a chair, 1930

Sanyu

Pekinese on a chair, 1930

Sale Date: April 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Potted chrysanthemums, 1950–1959

Sanyu

Potted chrysanthemums, 1950–1959

Sale Date: April 5, 2014

Auction Closed

红梅与白梅 (Prunus branches in a green landscape), 1962

Sanyu

红梅与白梅 (Prunus branches in a green landscape), 1962

Sale Date: April 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Nu alangui

Sanyu

Nu alangui

Sale Date: March 31, 2014

Auction Closed

Nude and Leopard, 2003

Follower of Sanyu

Nude and Leopard, 2003

Sale Date: March 1, 2014

Auction Closed

花卉油画

Sanyu

花卉油画

Sale Date: December 16, 2013

Auction Closed

Nu

Sanyu

Nu

Sale Date: December 21, 2013

Auction Closed

Jeune femme dessinant

Sanyu

Jeune femme dessinant

Sale Date: December 14, 2013

Auction Closed

Femme nue allongée de dos (recto-verso)

Sanyu

Femme nue allongée de dos (recto-verso)

Sale Date: December 14, 2013

Auction Closed

陶潜诗选铜板版画 (Poetry of tao qian) (3 works)

Sanyu

陶潜诗选铜板版画 (Poetry of tao qian) (3 works)

Sale Date: December 15, 2013

Auction Closed

双人体, 1930

Sanyu

双人体, 1930

Sale Date: December 4, 2013

Auction Closed

30年代作 裸女 (Nude)

Sanyu

30年代作 裸女 (Nude)

Sale Date: December 2, 2013

Auction Closed

Seated Nude; Flower in Vase (2 works)

Sanyu

Seated Nude; Flower in Vase (2 works)

Sale Date: November 24, 2013

Auction Closed

Les Poèmes de T'ao Tsien (set of 3 works), 1930

Sanyu

Les Poèmes de T'ao Tsien (set of 3 works), 1930

Sale Date: November 24, 2013

Auction Closed

Standing Nude, 1930–1939

Sanyu

Standing Nude, 1930–1939

Sale Date: November 24, 2013

Auction Closed