Zhao Mengfu was a famous calligrapher, painter and poet in the late Southern Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty. He is knowledgeable, good at poetry writing, understanding economy, calligraphy, fine painting, good at epigraphy and appreciation. Especially in calligraphy and painting. In painting, he created a new painting style in Yuan Dynasty, which was called "the crown of Yuan people". Zhao Mengfu is also good at seal script, official script, original works, calligraphy and cursive script, especially regular script and running script. His elegant style of calligraphy, neat structure and skillful brushwork created Zhao Ti Shu, which is called "four masters of regular script" with Ou Yangxun, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. In the 23rd year of Yuan Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu was recommended by Cheng Jufu, an imperial envoy of Taiwan, and was respected by Kublai Khan of Yuan Shizu. He has served as a bachelor in Jixian County, general manager of Jinan Road, a Confucian scholar in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and a bachelor in Hanlin. Cheng Zhi, Bachelor of Hanlin, Doctor Rong Lu. In his later years, he gradually retired and then asked for help from his illness. In the second year of Zhi Zhi, Zhao Mengfu died at the age of 69. He was named "Wen Min" by Pingzhang, Zhongshu Province, Jiangsu Province, posthumous title and Wei Guogong, hence the name "Zhao". He is the author of Song Xuezhai's Anthology and so on.
Zhao Mengfu's painting achievement, as Amin Wang Shizhen said: "Literati painting began in Dongpo and began in Song Xue". If the interest of Tang and Song painting lies in literary creation, then Zhao Mengfu played a bridge role in it. The movement of literati painting before Yuan Dynasty was mainly manifested in the preparation of public opinion, but it turned to realism after Yuan Dynasty, indicating that this change was triggered by Zhao Mengfu. Besides painting, Zhao Mengfu's calligraphy was also a peak in the Yuan Dynasty. His contribution to calligraphy lies not only in his calligraphy works, but also in his calligraphy theory. He has many original ideas about calligraphy. He believes: "There are two ways to learn books, one is brushwork, and the other is glyph. Exquisite brushwork, although good and evil; The shape is wonderful, although it is still cooked. Learning books can solve this, and then you can tell books. " "It is good to learn books while pondering over ancient books and know what it means to use a pen." When writing ancient books, he pointed out a very meaningful fact: "The predecessors got a few lines of ancient books and studied them with great concentration, so they could become famous all over the world. Zhao Mengfu is good at absorbing other people's strengths, so he has made great achievements in calligraphy. What is particularly valuable is that most calligraphers in the Song and Yuan Dynasties were only good at lines and cursive scripts, while Zhao Mengfu was able to delve into various styles. Later generations, many people studied Zhao Mengfu's calligraphy, and Zhao Mengfu's calligraphy was very popular in Korea and Japan.
At present, calligraphy and painting is a mainstream hot collection in the collection market, among which the works of ancient painters such as Wang Xizhi, Zhao Mengfu and Tang Yin are the most popular. However, due to their scarcity, this collection belongs to dragons and cannot be found. I was lucky enough to see a painting and calligraphy by Zhao Mengfu. Please look at the picture below.
This painting is Zhao Mengfu's imitation of Zhang Zeduan in Song Dynasty. Compared with other versions, this version of Zhao Mengfu is more in line with the author. This painting brings together the harmonious scene of the Northern Song Dynasty into a unified and changeable picture scroll, showing the pastoral scenery outside the Bianliang River, the prosperous cities on both sides of the Bianhe River, the city bridges and boats crossing the country, etc. The scene is grand, with many characters and delicate descriptions. It embodies the artist Zhang Zeduan's exquisite painting skills and superb artistic standards. His works are divided into three parts: figures, shop assistants, caravans, small bridges and flowing water, green trees and green mountains, which are full of peaceful and harmonious life scenes. Among the more than 550 figures in the whole map, there are officials, farmers, businessmen, doctors, fortune tellers, monks, Taoist priests, petty officials, women, children, Artemisia teachers and so on. During the period, it was full of dramatic plot conflicts. Fifty or sixty cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and other livestock, more than 20 cars, sedan chairs, more than 20 large and small ships, and busy and tense traffic scenes on the Bianhe River made the picture vivid, adding to the life atmosphere of the picture. Zhao Mengfu not only restored his painting, but also wrote down his personal feelings on it. His pen is clear, slim but not weak, powerful and rhythmic, with the beauty of combining rigidity with softness and domineering grace, which is a must. Very collectible.
Zhao Mengfu is well-read and versatile, and literature and art create a generation of ethos. The study of Confucian classics mainly focuses on Shangshu, especially the study of rites and music. There is also a profound study of Lu Zhixue, and it is quite wonderful that the ancients did not pass it on. There are two books, Qinyuan and Paradise. The seal method respects the stone drum and curses Chu, the official calligraphy Liang You and Zhong You, and the curses worship the two kings (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi). Influenced by Li Yong in his later years, all kinds of calligraphy are the best in ancient and modern times. Both Tianzhu and Japan attach great importance to collecting their calligraphy.
As far as I know, at the China autumn auction of calligraphy and painting in 20 10, a painting "Qiu Jiang" that Zhao Mengfu wanted to see was sold for 50.25 million RMB, setting a new record for the highest price on the spot, the highest price for calligraphy and painting and the third highest price. This shows the preciousness of his paintings and calligraphy.
The above is my limited knowledge of Zhao Mengfu. If you have friends in this collection at home, please remember to collect it properly.