The Chinese Central Institute of Fine Arts

He has brought Eastern and Western culture closer together. In China, where adoring crowds acclaimed him "Great Master", he was invited by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China to be the fourth Occidental artist to exhibit in Beijing, his precursors being Rodin, Miro and Chagall.

He was also the first western artist to be honored by being officially invited to paint the great Chinese philosopher, Confucius.

The exhibition included a triptych of portraits, including Confucius, Mao Tse Tung and the first Emperor of China, In Shi Huang, three of the most important figures in Chinese history.