signed ZHANGYUAN, inscribed, and with thirty-one seals of the artist ink and colour on paper Zhang Daqian (1899–1983), was one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the twentieth century. He is also regarded by many art experts as one of the most gifted master forgers of the twentieth century. He excelled at all types of paintings, and is especqianlongially famous for his landscape, as well as lotus paintings.