Tang Chen just said it casually, but he didn't expect Master Meng to answer immediately, and even took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and carefully appreciated it, which made Tang Chen a little troubled: "Is this a real painting?"

Zhou Xuanying smiled "fluttering": "How can it be true, if this painting is real, isn't the pile of paintings in 'Jubao Zhai' priceless......? They are all first-class calligraphy and painting masters, and ordinary people get one, which is enough to blow for a lifetime, and they still need to open any store!"

Tang Chen also knew this truth, but after all, it was a layman's mentality, just like a person buying a lottery ticket, the first thing he thought of must be what happened after winning the jackpot, but he would not think of what to do if he didn't win. Buying antiques is actually similar, and the nature is the same, all of which are speculative. As long as there is speculation, everyone's mentality is about the same.

At this time, Master Meng had already put down the magnifying glass and said with a wry smile: "Little brother, do you really not understand antiques?"

Tang Chen nodded honestly: "The first time I came into contact with antiques, it is estimated that a few days ago, an old timer brought me here. ”

"Since you don't know about antiques, why can you find a fine product from a pile of fake paintings?" Master Meng was very puzzled, even he, if he hadn't studied and explored as deeply as he had just now, he would probably have lost his eyes. What even he couldn't do, how did Tang Chen do it?

"No, this painting is real?!" Tang Chen was really surprised and delighted.

Master Meng carefully observed Tang Chen's expression, and felt that Tang Chen did not look like a fake, and his heart became even more puzzled. "It's not real, but it's not fake either. ”

Zhou Xuanying was stunned: "Could it be that it is also a splicing painting?"

"No, no, no, I'm sure that this painting has never been dismantled since it was first framed, and it is 100% original. Master Meng said affirmatively.

"Then why is it neither true nor false?" Zhou Xuanying was a little confused.

Master Meng smiled and said, "This is very understandable, in the eyes of painters, there is also a kind of painting called copying." The so-called copying, also known as painting, is the process of imitating calligraphy and painting works according to the original. Pro is to write or draw according to the original work, and copy is to write or draw on the original work with tissue paper or silk cloth. In a broad sense, copying is not necessarily the original. Many famous painters have copied other people's works. ”

"Since you can become a great painter, why do you have to copy other people's works?" Tang Chen was a little puzzled.

Master Meng said with a smile: "Wherever someone can become a great painter from the beginning, it is through continuous practice that they can achieve fame." Copying other people's paintings is to learn techniques and focus on the process of copying. The second is to obtain reproductions for preservation, restoration, exhibition, and sale, focusing on the results of copying. Therefore, the copy has the nature of a commodity. It has spread throughout the world, and has given rise to complex problems such as forgeries and forgeries. In all countries of the world, copying has always been the main way and means to learn classical calligraphy or painting techniques, and to learn from and inherit excellent traditions. ”

"So that's the case!" Zhou Xuanying understood, "So this painting is a copy of a great painter?"

Master Meng nodded and said, "That's true. ”

"Then who copied it?" Zhou Xuanying continued to ask.

At this time, the shopkeeper of the teahouse personally brought the teapot and tea leaves, and when he heard them say this, he also became interested: "Old Meng, do you help others identify ancient paintings?"

"Help identify the authenticity, but the painting is not an ancient painting. Master Meng smiled, "This person imitates Shi Tao, and Shi Tao's reputation must be clear to you." Do you know who likes Shi Tao's paintings the most?"

"Zhang Daqian!" The shopkeeper of the teahouse immediately blurted out, his eyes widening: "Could this be Zhang Daqian's true handiwork?"

Master Meng was a little surprised when he saw Tang Chen and Zhou Xuanying, and explained: "Don't look at him opening a teahouse, in fact, he is also an antique lover, but it's a pity that ......."

The shopkeeper of the teahouse smiled bitterly: "It's a pity that my talent is limited, and I can't learn anything." But for some allusions, it is still known. Take Zhang Daqian as an example, many people think that Zhang Daqian is the most famous master of Chinese painting in modern times, a giant in the painting world, and is well-known at home and abroad. However, few people know that such an artistic giant is actually a master of copying masterpieces and drawing fakes. And at the beginning of his fame, what was praised by people was not the works he created, but the fakes he made in imitation of the painter Shi Tao in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Zhang Daqian said self-deprecatingly that he was a liar who used paper and pen. His imitation of Shi Tao's fakes has its charm, expression techniques, and compositional characteristics, which are vivid and vivid, and are no different from the real works, and they are alive and free from the 'revival of Shi Tao'. I don't know how many famous painters, collectors, and connoisseurs have been fooled by his mischief.

Zhang Daqian, a twenty-four-five-year-old young man, is still an unknown 'posterior boy' in the art world. At that time, Chen Banding, the most famous painter and collector in the north, collected the most famous paintings in northern China, and was also an authority on connoisseurship. Once, he had just searched for a copy of Shi Tao's painting pages, which was regarded as a fine product and as expensive as a palm bead. He couldn't help but be overjoyed, and specially set up a banquet and invited famous artists to his home to drink and enjoy paintings. The famous artists invited include Wang Xuetao, Chen Shizeng, Xu Yansun and others. Zhang Daqian has always been fond of Shi Tao's paintings, and after hearing the news, he rushed to Chen's house to ask Chen Banding for advice, to see his collection of Shi Tao's paintings, and feast his eyes. Chen Banding naturally didn't pay much attention to this young uninvited guest, and asked him to wait for the guests to come and watch together.

When the invited guests in the living room of the Chen family arrived, Chen Banding ordered the servant to take out the album and unfold it under the bright light. Suddenly, the living room was filled with admiration. Chen Banding touched his chin with his hand and stood reservedly. The admiration of the guests is actually an affirmation of his appreciation of the album. Zhang Daqian stood on tiptoe and glanced at the album on the table. "Porphyry" laughed out loud. The guests were very upset about his rude behavior and cast reproachful glances at him. Chen Banding asked him, 'What do you have to teach him?' He said, 'I already knew about it.' Chen Banding didn't believe it, he couldn't imagine how such a precious album could be easily seen by a nobody. Zhang Daqian immediately said what was drawn on the first page, what was drawn on the second page, and what was drawn on the third page...... What is the title, what is the seal. Chen Banding and the guests looked through and compared, and the more they looked, the more surprised they became. Sure enough, the content of this album is exactly what Zhang Daqian said. Chen Banding was puzzled and asked, 'Have you ever collected this album?' Zhang Daqian said proudly: 'Where can I afford to buy this priceless album!' Chen Banding was stunned for a long time, and then straightened his face and blamed the young man for speaking dishonestly. Zhang Daqian picked up the pen and painted a painting of Shi Tao on the spot, which stunned Chen Banding and the guests.

This incident not only embarrassed Chen Banding so much that it was difficult to step down, but even the faces of all the famous people present were not good-looking. The dignified authority of the painting circle in northern China was actually made a big joke by an unknown junior. ”

(End of chapter)