A painting by Zao Wou-ki [Photo provided to China Daily]

Works of three modern art pioneers, Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-ki and Chu Teh-chun, who went to study Western art in Paris at the beginning of the last century, will be under the hammer in April at a Hong Kong auction.

These modern masters' works to be auctioned were displayed at Beijing's Guardian Art Center on Saturday. After a traveling exhibition in Beijing, they will be sold at China Guardian Hong Kong's spring auction at the beginning of April. It's the first time for the auction house's Hong Kong auction to show their works in Beijing.

Works of three modern art pioneers, Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-ki and Chu Teh-chun, who went to study Western art in Paris at the beginning of the last century, will be under the hammer in April at a Hong Kong auction. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Highlights are works of Wu, whose iconic oil painting The Yulong Snowcapped Mountains completed in 1978. The large-size piece is thought to be a representative work among Wu's popular snow mountain series.

To capture the beauty of the Yulong Mountains in Yunnan province, Wu spent days in 1978 visiting the mountain and drew eight paintings together. The one to be auctioned is the biggest oil painting, in size.

Artworks by Zao and Chu are also star pieces at the auction's Asian 20th century and Contemporary Art category. All the three artists went to study art in Paris at the early 20th century and integrated the Western art style with Chinese ink art. Their works reflect the evolution of Chinese art from the 20th century to today and usher the figurative tradition into the semi-abstract realm.

Works of three modern art pioneers, Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-ki and Chu Teh-chun, who went to study Western art in Paris at the beginning of the last century, will be under the hammer in April at a Hong Kong auction. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Works of three modern art pioneers, Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-ki and Chu Teh-chun, who went to study Western art in Paris at the beginning of the last century, will be under the hammer in April at a Hong Kong auction. [Photo provided to China Daily]