The widow of one of China's most famous painter Xu Beihong has decided she doesn't want to be buried with a number of her husband's artworks.

Nearly 100 paintings by Xu Beihong (1895-1953) went on preview yesterday at Hotel Equatorial Shanghai ahead of an auction next month in Beijing.

Xu's wife, Liao Jingwen, donated most of his paintings to the country after his death in 1953. She held back a bunch of paintings hidden in the bottom of a case, however.

"As a special souvenir of her husband, Liao wanted to keep them, and even have them in her tomb," said Zhao Yu, an art consultant for Zhong Mao Shen Jia Auction Company.

"But at the age of 82, she decided to auction them off to the public."

Xu is renowned for his vivid depiction of horses.

The highlight of the works up for sale is a series of horse paintings that are estimated to be worth around 5 million to 7.6 million yuan (US$617,000-US$938,000).

(Shanghai Daily November 17, 2005)