Chinese ancestor or genealogy portrait of a female member of the Zhu family, likely late Ming Dynasty. She is portrayed wearing a surcoat with a crane rank-badge as well as a ruby and emerald bejeweled headpiece. Ink and gold on silk. This type of portrait is known as a pu xiang, or a genealogy portrait. The sitter is rendered in the appropriate costume of their rank. The clothing as well as the sumptuous brocade chair indicates a person of both high-rank and wealth. Provenance: Neal Auction, New Orleans, September 12, 2009, Lot 101; Private Minnesota Collection. Sight; height: 24 1/2 in x width: 17 in. Framed; height: 33 1/2 in x width: 26 in x depth: 1 in.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.