Top 10 most sought-after Chinese painters in 2012 (9)

Top 2: Qi Baishi 齐白石

Auction Revenue: US$270 million

QI Baishi (1864-1957), born in Xiangtan, Hunan, was one of the top ten most renowned Chinese painters of the 20th century. Qi was a versatile master skilled at painting human figures, animals and landscape.

His best result in 2012 was generated by his 1954 "Ode to the Motherland" (218cm × 72.5cm), which fetched a whopping US$12.42 million. The work fetched US$463,400 in 2006 and appreciated by nearly US$12 million in 6 years.

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