A visitor appreciates Chen Yifei's oil painting "Eulogy of the Yellow River" at the preview for the China Guardian 2007 Spring Auctions on Wednesday, May 9, 2007.(Photo: cnsphoto)

Experts are now expecting an oil painting by the late Chinese artist Chen Yifei to be sold at a minimum of 2.86 million U.S. dollars at the upcoming China Guardian 2007 Spring Auctions this weekend.

A preview was held on Wednesday, where 2,000 paintings and sculpture works, from a range of modern and contemporary artists, were displayed.

Insiders say that the final price for Chen Yifei's "Eulogy of the Yellow River" could hit 22 to 32 million yuan (2.86 - 4.16 million dollars).

The 297 by 143.5 centimeter work depicts a Red Army soldier stands on the mountain top overlooking the Yellow River. The Red Army was the name for the People's Liberation Army of China before 1946.

Chen Yifei is reported to have said he personally considers the work beautiful, heroic and romantic.

It was produced by 25-year-old Chen Yifei in 1972, and is considered representative of his early style.

Chen Yifei passed away in 2005.

Two of his later works were also set to be auctioned, including "Early Fall," which has received appraisals between 3.6 to 4.2 million yuan.

The works of other acclaimed painters, including Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi, are also expected to pull in bidders at the auction.

The auction will be held in Beijing's Kerry Center from Saturday to Sunday.

Editor: Donald