Mei Lanfang can almost be called the first person in Peking Opera, and his level of reputation and so on is almost unprecedented, but when ordinary people appreciate and admire his superb Peking Opera performing arts, they often ignore his equally excellent calligraphy and painting creation ability.

Mei Lanfang in addition to the performance, the biggest interest is to write and paint, especially painting, at the age of 20 I met Wu Changshuo, and later formally worshiped Ren Bonian's disciple Wang Mengbai to study, Wang Mengbai This person is a double disciple of Ren Bonian and Wu Changshuo, served in the Ministry of Justice at that time, and also founded the "Xuannan Painting Society", the level is quite good, Wang Mengbai personally went to Mei Lanfang's home every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to teach skills.

By 1920, Mei Lanfang met Qi Baishi, and also worshiped Qi Baishi as a teacher, although the friendship between the two was also a teacher and a friend, but Mei Lanfang has always treated Qi Baishi with a teacher's courtesy, and she must call the teacher when she meets. Because of the friendship between the two people, an interesting story has also been derived.

Once Mei Lanfang and Qi Baishi were invited to attend a meeting of a dignitary at the same time, Qi Baishi arrived first, because he was dressed plainly, inconspicuous, and unfamiliar with many dignitaries, he sat alone in a corner, and some were left out.

As soon as Mei Lanfang arrived, he was naturally like the stars holding the moon, but he squeezed out the encirclement and walked quickly in front of Qi Baishi, bowed respectfully and shouted: "Teacher", and helped Qi Baishi to sit down in the front row, and then introduced to everyone: "This is the famous painter Mr. Qi Baishi, and also my teacher," everyone stepped forward to greet Qi Baishi after hearing this.

Qi Baishi was happy and grateful to the famous Mei Lanfang for him on a special occasion and in a special way, and he was also grateful. Now it has fallen into Chang'an City, fortunately, Mei Lang knows his name. ”

And Mei Lanfang also wrote a poem after receiving it: "The friendship between the teacher and the painting art is deep, how can the student forget the teacher's kindness; Although the world is hot and cold, it is my duty to respect my teacher. ”

In addition to Qi Baishi, Mei Lanfang also established a large number of famous literati and ink painters at that time, such as Wu Changshuo, Wang Mengbai, Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Chen Shizeng, Ling Wenyuan, Chen Banding, Wang Aishi, Li Shikan, Tang Dingzhi, Wu Hufan, Ye Gongxuan, Ye Yuhu, Li Bake, Chen Taoyi, etc., all of whom have a very deep friendship with Mei Lanfang, and all of them are famous painters.

It can be said that even if Mei Lanfang does not learn to act, with his talent and diligence, he is completely able to create a piece of his own world in the painting world, it is said that in the days when he took refuge in Shanghai, Mei Lanfang in order to improve his painting skills, under the guidance of Wu Hufan, Li Bake and others, all night practice, less than a year, Mei Lanfang's painting skills have really improved by leaps and bounds, and also opened her first art exhibition.

It's just that under the cover of the aura of the master of Peking Opera, ordinary people often ignore his achievements in the painting world, intentionally or unintentionally.

Mei Lanfang has traveled extensively in the painting world, and all the painters who come and go are famous figures, so he has learned more than one painting technique, his master Wang Mengbai is from the Shanghai School, and the other master Qi Baishi is from the Beijing-Tianjin School.

Mei Lanfang skillfully integrated the two most influential painting styles at that time, one south and one north, with a fresh and elegant painting style, just like his best floral sketches, striving to chase plain and elegant in terms of charm, but in terms of color and composition, it was greatly influenced by Shanghai-style techniques.

In the eyes of many painters, Mei Lanfang's paintings can be as self-contained as his plays, because his paintings seem to start from drama, skillfully integrating the strengths of the north and the south, and integrating the so-called "elegance" and "vulgarity" of ordinary people, just like elevating the originally vulgar Peking Opera to the realm of elegance and vulgarity.

Of course, no matter what Mei Lanfang's strength is, it is also an indisputable fact that his paintings have not been recognized and valued by the world. With Mei Lanfang's ability, his works in the market are not 200,000 yuan per square foot, but in fact it is only 350,000 yuan, which is inferior to some ordinary painters who are not famous in modern times.

But Mei Lanfang is Mei Lanfang after all, his fame is here, and his strength is also here, even if there is no halo of Peking Opera masters, the price of his works will rise, because his works are indeed elegant and vulgar, with both the atmosphere and elegance of the Beijing-Tianjin School of painting and the gorgeous and bright of the Shanghai School, the painting style is very flattering, which is also a major reason why he was able to make a living by selling paintings in Shanghai at that time.

In Zhou Ming's estimate, the market price of Mei Lanfang's works will rise sooner or later, and 150,000 yuan per square foot should be the normal price, and if Mei Lanfang's own fame bonus is counted, it is not impossible for the price to be higher.

In other words, this four-square-foot painting of flowers and birds is worth 600,000 yuan at least in Zhou Ming's estimate.

And Zhou Ming looked at it seriously, this painting is fresh and elegant, the tone is cheerful and bright, the pen is very sophisticated, especially the subtleties are very cleverly controlled, the willow branches under the spring breeze are vividly painted, and two colorful and lively and lovely yellow birds are specially added to embellish, one movement and one stillness complement each other, and although the composition is rigorous, the painting style is bright and lovely, and it is indeed a point of elegance and vulgar appreciation.

That is to say, this painting was made by Mei Lanfang at his peak, although it is not written on the inscription when this painting was created, but according to his understanding of Mei Lanfang's career trajectory, this should be a matter after liberation, at that time he ate and drank without worrying and was famous all over the world, and he was respected and treated much better than during the Republic of China.

It is in that environment that Mei Lanfang can create calligraphy and painting more attentively, and can also create such peaceful and cheerful works.

After reading this painting, Zhou Zhou Ming asked quietly: "Old man, what is the price of this painting?" ”

"How much are you willing to give?" The old man was also cunning, and even asked the price of Zhou Ming first.

Zhou Ming smiled when he heard this, and said in his heart If you let me bid, then I will not be polite, and stretched out three fingers, "Thirty thousand yuan, no more." ”

"Thirty thousand? It's a little low," the old man frowned.

Zhou Zhou Ming was overjoyed when he saw the old man's expression, and secretly said that there was a play, it seems that this price is about the same as the old man's psychological price, if the old man knew the true value of this painting, it is estimated that he would have jumped up a long time ago, since it is just a little low, that is, the price is already about the same.

Thinking about this, Zhou Zhou Ming smiled, "Mei Lanfang is good at singing and famous, but celebrity calligraphy and painting are at this price, more than 50,000 yuan is meaningless, and this painting is not dated or given to anyone, obviously he painted it and sold it for money when he took refuge in Shanghai, and the level of that painting is obviously very average, so the price of 30,000 yuan is very reasonable." ”

Zhou Zhou Ming is simply talking nonsense with his eyes wide open, and he has made a subtle misleading way according to normal people's understanding of Mei Lanfang, and asked the old man to evaluate Mei Lanfang's paintings according to the public thinking, so that the price is naturally difficult to raise.

Just like Zhou Ming said, celebrity calligraphy and painting and calligraphy and painting celebrities are two concepts, celebrity calligraphy and painting are also paintings of calligraphy and painting written by some celebrities, the main value is the halo on the head of celebrities, and the level of calligraphy and painting is actually average; The celebrities of calligraphy and painting are people who are purely famous for their calligraphy and painting, and these people are the mainstream of the ancient calligraphy and painting market.

But although Mei Lanfang's paintings are generally rated as celebrity calligraphy and paintings, this is an unfair view of Mei Lanfang, thinking that Mei Lanfang's main business is singing, and painting is just a hobby, and the level is definitely not high.

But those who really understand calligraphy and painting know that even if it is just a hobby, Mei Lanfang's attainments in calligraphy and painting are no worse than some professional painters, and even better in some aspects.

And Zhou Zhou Ming took advantage of this small bias, so that the old man had nothing to say, and he said after a while: "This painting is so well preserved, let's add more." ”

Zhou Zhou Ming smiled secretly in his heart, but there was an expression of extreme pain on his face, and he struggled for a long time before adding a little, "Add another five thousand, that's the price." ”

"Okay...... the old man seemed to be satisfied with the price, and then asked, "Then you can look at something else?" It seems that Zhou Ming's bid is quite happy, and he is a little reluctant to leave Zhou Ming like this.

Zhou Zhou Ming smiled indifferently, "If there are any good things, of course I want to take a look at them again." ”

"Wait a minute," the old man said and left the study, and after a moment he came back with a small box in his hand, and after opening it, he looked at Zhou Ming with a proud face, "What do you think of this?" Although it was an inquiring attitude, the old man's swaggering attitude was undoubtedly revealed.

The box is not big, more than 20 centimeters long, and the width is only six centimeters, it is a jewelry box, there is no inlay of gold and silver and other metals on it, but it is carved with simple flower and grass ornaments, it looks inconspicuous, and the most attractive thing is the hosta in the box.

This hosta is a standard white hosta, about 20 centimeters long, the hairpin rod is slender and slightly curved, the tail of the hairpin is carved with a phoenix that is about to fly, the phoenix adopts the technique of openwork, although it is not complicated, but it is also quite exquisite, it is a typical style in the middle of the Qing Dynasty.

It's also a good baby, Zhou Ming looked at the hairpin with a white body and a shining treasure light and nodded secretly, this is a heirloom jade, it is rare, and what is even more rare is that this hairpin is taken out of a piece of jade with a minimum length of twenty centimeters.

More than 20 centimeters long Hetian white jade, this value is very expensive, especially in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, such a large piece of Hetian jade is definitely not something that anyone can have, even if you have it, you are reluctant to separate it and make a hosta.

can be willing to cut such a large piece of complete jade and take a hosta alone, then the identity of the original owner of this hosta may not be ordinary. Of course, the most important thing is that the level of making this hosta is indeed high, and it is the top carving level of that era.