Qi Baishi's Eagle Standing on Pine Tree; Four-Character Couplet in Seal Script

   齊白石《松柏高立圖?篆書四言聯》

 Hammer Price: US$57.2 million

The painting, "Eagle Standing on Pine Tree; Four-Character Couplet in Seal Script", executed by established Chinese master Qi Baishi in 1946, fetched US$57.2 million at the Beijing-based China Guardian on May 22, 2011, the best annual result recorded by Artprice. The piece is said to be Qi's largest work, consisting of an ink portrayal (266cm x 100cm) and a pair of calligraphy scrolls (264.5cm x 65.8cm each). The sale is breathtaking, though it's not as high as the US$ 95 million record set by Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" in 2010. Qi's auction revenue of US$510 million pushed him onto the runner-up spot on the global artist rankings by auction revenue in 2011.