SHANGHAI, July 23 -- HUNDREDS of people paid their last respects yesterday morning to Cheng Shifa, a famous artist from the city's Songjiang District who died of heart problems on July 17. He was 86.

About 500 mourners began arriving at the Longhua Funeral Home at 9am yesterday for a viewing of his body that ran until 11am.

Cheng suffered a severe heart attack on the afternoon of July 15, which he initially survived. He passed away at Shanghai Huadong Hospital two days later.

The artist's son, Cheng Duoduo, said his father underwent minor heart surgery two years ago, but he was unable to fully recover due to his old age and his situation gradually deteriorated.

Cheng was famous for painting landscapes, people, scenes from showing minority groups in Yunnan Province and comic strips. He was also recognized for his works of calligraphy.

His work earned him a spot on the council of the China Artists' Association and he was president of the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy.

His work made him a millionaire. The highest price paid for one of his single paintings was three million yuan (US$132,000) at an auction in 2006. In 2005, one set of his comic strips sold for 11 million yuan, the highest price ever paid for his work.

Officials who handle art auctions say they expect Cheng's death will raise the price of his works by 10 to 20 percent.

Yesterday's mourners included family members, friends, fellow artists, government officials and ordinary city residents. They took turns entering a second-floor viewing parlor that contained Cheng's coffin and a large portrait of the artist.

Cheng was laid out under a thin quilt in a coffin filled with red and white flowers.

"I came from Songjiang and got up early this morning to say the last farewell to the master," said Zhao Jiayou, a local resident. "Cheng is the pride of Songjiang."

Li Jiusong, a famous comic actor, also said farewell to a man he considered an idol, friend and teacher.

"Master Cheng was kind and humorous. We have been friends for years and I often asked his advice about acting," Li recalled.