The date of the signature on the scroll is December 6, the thirtieth year of Jiajing, that is, 1551, when Wen Zhengming was exactly eighty-one years old, indicating that this work should have been created in his later years.

In addition, there is also the seal of Wu Weiye in the lower left corner of this picture, this person is a famous poet in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and Qian Qianyi, Gong Dingyu and called "Jiangzuo three masters", and is the founder of the Loudong poetry school. Long in seven words and songs, the first to learn "Changqing style", after becoming a new yin, later called "plum village style". In addition, there are also many bell seals of Qing Dynasty literati.

Also, judging from the promotion of this figure, it should be a work of adventurism, what is proximity? It is to face other people's drawings or prints, according to the brush, ink, coloring, and chapter of their works, meticulously draw the same.

Why does Chu Chen think that this work is a work of opposition? is also because Wen Zhengming's promotion is Huang Gongwang's "Drunk in the Sky" Xiaoling inscribed on Li Song's "Skull Picture".

In any case, the characters in this picture are vivid and accurate, the lines are elegant and smooth, the colors are elegant, especially the proportion of the large and small skeletons is also very accurate, and the original painting has the same magic, it should be said that it is a rare white masterpiece.

It's just that, as mentioned earlier, is the character in this picture an authentic handwriting, or is it ghostwriting? Or is the picture made by someone else, and Wen Zhengming inscribes it?

If it were another 80-year-old painter who painted such a fine white figure drawing, it would definitely be questioned, but Wen Zhengming's calligraphy and painting "get older and more subtle, and there are those who are meticulous and proud", it is not surprising that this work has this work.

However, as mentioned above, in the paintings of Wen Zhengming's life, very few copies of the works of his predecessors. Create more for yourself. Only one of them is in the collection of Treasure Island. There is an inscription on the axis of the palace museum's "Basho Lady": "Jiajing has a spring day, and occasionally read Zhao Songxue's Basho Lady's picture." The drama is over. ”

This painting is nameless, and the square seal of the white text is "Zhengming Seal". This painting is in the old collection of the Qing Palace. He has written in "Shiqu Baoji Three Editions? Yanxi Palace. If this picture is genuine, it may indicate that the "Skeleton Phantom World Map" in front of you may be the real work that he copied.

So, is this "Skeleton Phantom World" a ghostwriting work?

Chu Chen thought back a little, and from the existing historical materials, it can be known that among the people who wrote for Wen Zhengming's paintings, Zhu Lang, Zhou Tianqiu, and Lu Shidao should write landscapes or flowers as a fact, and there is no record in history of ghostwriting and painting characters in vain, and none of the above people are good at characters.

Among Wen Zhengming's disciples and friends in his later years (around the age of eighty). It seems that Qiu Ying is the only one who has the skills and attainments of this figure painting in front of him.

Chu Chen learned from historical materials that Wen and Qiu had known each other for more than 30 years, and they were also teachers and friends, and often collaborated in painting. For example, Zhengde's fifteenth year of writing, Qiu cooperated with "Imitation of Li Gonglin's Lotus Society"; In the twelfth year of Zhengde (1517), Wen Zhengming painted and colored by Qiu Ying, "Picture of Xiangjun Xiang Lady", etc.

The two of them created more in the form of calligraphy and painting, such as Qiu paintings, the volume of the document "Filial Piety Scripture", the scroll of "Shuangjun Map", etc., as well as the volume of "Shanglin Tu", the volume of "Gonggongtu", the volume of "Hou Chibi Futu" and so on.

So, is the painting in front of him written by Wen Zhengming himself, or is it a collaboration between Wen and Qiu? However, whether it is Wen Zhengming or the work of Wen and Qiu, as long as it is genuine. Then the value of this painting is very high.

With this question, Chu Chen took out a magnifying glass and began to observe it carefully.

First of all, handwriting and seals. Chu Chen can be sure that it is genuine, which is very consistent with the warmth and beauty of his calligraphy, and it is stable and old. The law is characterized by strictness and vividness.

And the characters in the painting look like they are all in shape. Strong generalization and lifelike. The color is exquisite but not flashy, and judging from the brushwork and style of painting, it is indeed Qiu Ying's lineage.

But the painting was created in the winter of 1551, and Qiu Ying's birth and death years are not very examinable, some say 1551 and some say that it was the autumn and winter season of 1552, but even if he died in 1552, it is unknown whether Qiu Ying still had the strength to paint such a work ten months ago.

Moreover, judging from the brushwork and style of this work, it is still different from Qiu Ying's previous works, and it is not as exquisite as Qiu Ying's works. Chu Chen observed it carefully, and felt that the painting method and style looked very similar to You Qiu's work.

You Qiu is Qiu Ying's nephew. He is good at painting people, ladies, Taoism and landscapes. As an important representative painter of the late Wumen School, he is especially good at white figures, and his painting method is Qiu Ying, and then traces back to Liu Songnian and Qian Shunju. The style is delicate and beautiful, and the pursuit of the quaint and elegant connotations of the literati is known as the successor of Qiu Ying.

And in the process of observation, Chu Chen also noticed a detail, the paper of this work should have been larger than it is now, and the lost part is likely to be consciously cut and lost when it was unveiled before.

With this discovery, Chu Chen immediately had a guess in his heart that was more in line with the facts.

He remembered seeing in the master's notes that there were countless imitations and replicas of Wumen masters at that time, and there were often his own inscriptions on the forgeries. In the appraisal, it is often found that the works are actually written by Qian Qian, Zhu Lang, You Qiu, Wen Jia and Wen Peng, but there are works signed by Wen Zhengming.

From this point, Chu Chen speculated that the cut part is likely to be the inscription of You Qiu, and as for the purpose of cutting this part, it is also easy to understand, because in the history of painting, Wen Zhengming's popularity has always been far greater than that of Qiu Ying and You Qiu, and it is also a normal thing to cut off the inscription of You Qiu for the sake of interests.

Therefore, Chu Chen felt that the painting in front of him should be a work written by You Qiu and inscribed by Wen Zhengming.

However, in terms of calligraphy and painting appraisal, Chu Chen is still a little worse than the appraisal of porcelain and jade, and the conclusion is mainly guessing and not rigorous enough, so he still immediately used his ability.

Although this ability can't directly say that this painting is genuine, it can already support Chu Chen's judgment in terms of age and value.

Seeing Chu Chen put away the things in his hand, Xie Gong hurriedly asked, "Boss Chu, what do you think of this painting?" ”

"This ......" Chu Chen hesitated for a while, and then said: "Old Xie, maybe you are going to be disappointed, I think this work is a ghostwriting work." ”

"Ghostwriting?" Xie Gong was stunned for a moment, and after a while, he came back to his senses and asked with an incredible face: "Boss Chu, do you mean that this work of mine is not real?" ”

"It's not all true!"

Chu Chen shook his head and said, "I think that the inscription and the seal should be the authentic works of Wen Zhengming, but in terms of the brushwork and style of painting, I think there is a big difference with Wen Zhengming." ”

"It can't be!"

Xie Gong directly denied Chu Chen's conclusion with an angry face: "How can something that has been passed down in my family for one or two hundred years be wrong? And there are so many family seals on it, can't they even see it? ”

Chu Chen said calmly: "Old Xie, you are excited first, I said that this work is wrong, and there is a reason, you can listen patiently first, how about it?" ”

Although the result given by Chu Chen was something he never wanted to hear, but considering that the price given by Chu Chen before was indeed more generous, and he looked good, although Xie Gong was angry in his heart, he still said bluntly: "You say!" ”

First of all, Wen Zhengming's figure painting was taught by Li Gonglin, who inherited the ancient tradition and had fine and smooth brushwork. In his later years, he had two styles, thick and thin, and the later he worked. And this work, judging from the inscription, is the work he made when he was eighty-one years old......"

Chu Chen talked eloquently, and explained the characteristics of this painting in detail, and finally concluded:

"Therefore, I think this should be a work that is ghostwritten and inscribed."

After listening to Chu Chen's very detailed explanation, Xie Gong couldn't help but start leaning towards Chu Chen's judgment in his heart, however, it was definitely impossible for him to fully trust Chu Chen's judgment now, he thought about it and said:

"You also said that your conclusion was based on speculation, does that mean that this work is still possible as Wen Zhengming's authentic work?"

Chu Chen shook his head and said honestly: "I have said before, I am just not sure whether it is You Qiu's work or not, judging from the style of painting, the possibility that this work was made by Wen Zhengming himself is very small. Of course, I still have some deficiencies in the appraisal of calligraphy and painting, so I suggest yì, let's give my master another appraisal later, what do you think? ”

"Who is your master?" Xie Gong asked.

Chu Chen replied: "My master is Liu Zhihe, I don't know if you know him?" ”

Xie Gong didn't remember who Chu Chen was talking about at first, and he was silent for a while before he said loudly with a surprised face:

"What?! Your master is Liu Lao? ”

"It's like a fake!" Chu Chen smiled: "Old Xie, if you agree, let's set off now." ”

Xie Gongdao didn't think much about it, so he agreed, after all, Chu Chen gave such a surprise result, if he didn't figure things out, this matter would definitely be in his throat.

Besides, in the current situation of his family, this painting will have to be sold sooner or later, regardless of its authenticity, it is undoubtedly better for him to be able to sell it to Chu Chen, because he knows that Chu Chen will definitely not be like others, desperately lowering the price.

Xie Gong thought so, although he was suspected of taking advantage of Chu Chen's kindness, but at this time, he couldn't think of any other way to get money, so he could only do so. However, he also made up his mind that he was ready to repay Chu Chen well when this matter passed.

After getting into the car, Chu Chen drove directly to Yuhua Garden, and on the way, Xie Gong asked with some concern: "Boss Chu, if this painting is indeed like what you said, how much can it be worth?" ”

Chu Chen replied: "Even if this painting is indeed a ghostwriting, but the promotion and seal are real, just in this regard, it can be worth more than 100,000 yuan, plus this painting is also very good, it can be regarded as a genuine product, I think the market price should be around 500,000." (To be continued......)