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Sotheby’s Sells Castiglione Painting for Record $23 Million in Hong Kong

Published: May. 6, 2026 10:27 p.m. GMT+8

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The painting, titled Gathering of Two Auspicious Signs, debuted at a May 5 auction. Photo: VCG

A rare painting by Italian missionary and Qing dynasty court painter Giuseppe Castiglione sold for nearly HK$180 million ($23 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, setting a record for the artist.

The painting, titled Gathering of Two Auspicious Signs, debuted at a May 5 auction. After opening at HK$140 million and hammering at HK$152 million, a telephone bidder represented by Nicolas Chow, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, acquired it for HK$179.9 million, including the buyer’s premium.

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Castiglione's 1723 painting "Gathering of Two Auspicious Signs" sold for HK$179.9M ($23M) at Sotheby's Hong Kong, artist's record.
Created for Yongzheng Emperor, depicts twin lotus and double-eared grain to legitimize rule; earliest surviving Qing court work.
Provenance: Qing emperors, Puyi, Zhang Xueliang, Soong Mei-ling; survived 1923 fire.

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Who’s Who

Sotheby’s: Sotheby’s held a Hong Kong auction on May 5, where Giuseppe Castiglione’s "Gathering of Two Auspicious Signs" sold for HK$179.9 million (incl. premium), a record for the artist. Telephone bidder was represented by Nicolas Chow, Sotheby’s Asia chairman.

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