Luo Ping's "Drunken Bell Kui Tu", colored on paper
In the world of Chinese painting, there are countless famous artists who are good at painting flowers, plants, insects, fish, birds and beasts, but only one person is known for "painting ghosts". His "ghost" has become a unique landscape in art history in the era of "elegance".
Ghost "Da Ren"
Zheng Banqiao's bamboo, Wang Shishen's plum, Huang Shen's people... And here in Luo Ping, there are ghosts with different forms. In both the West and the East, there are very few painters who have created and become famous based on ghosts and monsters. In China, paintings that talk about this kind of subject, in addition to Li Song's "Skeleton Illusion", are Luo Ping's "Divine Works" - "Ghost Fun Map".
Luo Ping's "Ghost Fun Map"
There are eight paintings in "Ghost Fun Map", and Luo employs exaggerated techniques to depict a strange and strange ghost world. In the smoke, these "ghosts" are fat or thin, tall or short, they are walking, talking, and even enjoying flowers and drinking, although they are ethereal, their expressions, looks and status are vividly presented.
These ghosts of the "Hall of Great Elegance" live a life that is not much different from ordinary people under Luo Ping's pen - and this is the reason why Luo Ping chose to paint ghosts. He did not paint ghosts for the purpose of "getting out of place", but to satirize people and things in the real world in a more witty and humorous way.
Luo Ping's "Ghost Fun Map" (partial)
It is difficult to draw a dragon and a tiger, and it is difficult to draw bones, and it is difficult to know the face of the person and the heart. Since it is so difficult to directly paint people, it is better to express what you think in the form of ghost generations. In the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong, Luo Ping went to The Beijing Division to meet famous people, and in the hustle and bustle of the capital, he saw the world and experienced the bitterness, sweetness and bitterness of life. What he saw was real people and real things, and when he reached the paper, he became a seemingly illusory ghost.
As soon as the "Ghost Map" came out, it set off an uproar in the capital, and many literati and inkers were amazed by it. Luo Ping's whimsical ideas and exquisite painting skills make the spicy irony in the painting more into the wood. Yuan Mei once commented on this work: "I compiled a ghost and monster book, known as "Zi Does Not Speak". See jun draw a ghost picture, Fang knows the ghost as promised. ”
Whether it is a person or a ghost, whether we see the real or false, everyone has a different answer in their hearts. However, as far as the "ghost talent" Luo Ping is concerned, revealing all kinds of darkness and injustice under the Taiping Dynasty and using painting ghosts to talk about the human world is the most gratifying thing.
There is a famous talent who has no money
For most people, it is not uncommon for artists who are poor and fearless before they die, and who are famous and popular after death, but Luo Ping, who has been a guest of many celebrities at a young age, is an exception. Despite his fame in the capital, he was in distress all his life.
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Luo Ping's "LockEd Diagram"
Luo Ping was the fourth son in the family, and although his father had won the township examination, he was only a sesame official. When Luo Ping turned one year old, his father died. Although he was talented and never forgot to read, Luo Ping did not have good learning conditions, and he grew up in poverty.
Luo Ping's "Six Volumes of Plum Blossoms", shanghai museum collection
In order to take on the heavy responsibility of supporting his family as soon as possible, he did not embark on the path of the imperial examination like other teenagers. "Through painting thirteen subjects, reading five thousand volumes of strange books", Luo Ping made a living selling paintings at a young age, and by the age of 20, he was already famous in his hometown.
Luo Ping's "Album of Flowers, Birds and Landscapes, Chibi Tu", color on paper, collected by the Freer Museum of Art, USA
Lu Yayu, who was the salt official of Yangzhou at the time, was passionate about literature and art, and he and the Ma brothers often gathered here at the XiaolinglongShan Pavilion in the city, calling on the famous calligraphers and painters and literati they admired to gather here. For the literati in Yangzhou, being invited to be a guest in the museum is like getting a "celebrity certification" and can be regarded as a recognized celebrity.
Luo Ping's "Flower, Bird, Landscape Album, Song Crane Diagram", color on paper, collection of the Freer Museum of Art, USA
Therefore, many literary and art workers who have painstakingly created have squeezed their heads in order to step into the threshold of the Xiaolinglong Mountain Museum. At this time, Luo Ping, who was less than 30 years old, had already been appreciated by Lu Yayu, and was often a guest of honor in the museum. Many literati who have painted all their lives and have long been old and decaying are envious and jealous of Luo Ping. But it has to be admitted that Luo Ping's talent has long been recognized by the public and peers at that time.
Luo Ping's "Lugou Xiaobeitu", which is followed by more than ten poems.
Why does Luo Ping, who is so beautiful in his creation, always live a sloppy and embarrassing life? It turned out that he was not good at saving, and the money in his pocket could not be retained. In his lifetime, he entered Beijing three times, and each time he could earn a lot of money. But after getting the money, Luo Hiring spent money like dirt, traveled to famous places, bought antiques, and called friends, until the end, each time it ended with not even going home.
Luo Ping's "Lugou Xiaobeitu"
When he entered Beijing for the second time, the money he earned in the capital was quickly squandered by him, and in desperation, he lived in an abandoned ancient temple. In order to raise money for the trip home, he even copied the poems written by his wife in the past and presented them to the dignitaries, hoping to arouse mercy and receive alms. Sitting alone in the dilapidated ancient temple, Luo Ping, who was like an arrow, could not help but sigh: "There are thousands of autumn karmas in the air, and there was no ten days of capital." If you want to return to the undefeated, why comfort the child? ”
Luo hired the "Luohan" vertical shaft, silk color
By the time he entered Beijing for the third time, Luo Yan was nearly the age of Hua Jia. At this time, he was already famous in the painting world, and there was an endless stream of people who came to the door to ask for paintings. Even some North Koreans in Beijing have paid a lot of money for his masterpieces. "Talking wildly about poetry, spending money on paintings", on the day of departure, Luo Ping still had the cost of the return journey, and he sold out all his old clothes and could not pay off the debts he owed when he was idle. It was not until three years after Jiaqing, with the financial support of friends, that Luo Ping's eldest son rushed to the capital and took his father and brother back to his home in Yangzhou.
Luo Ping", Dharmatu, mirror heart paper
After returning to his hometown this time, Luo Ping, who saw the world's cold state, "faded and bleak, and the old tears drifted." Exhausted, he died in Jiaqing for four years at the age of 67.
Luo Ping's "Flower, Bird and Landscape Album, Orchid Drawing", color on paper, collection of the Freer Museum of Art, USA
Deep friendship
As a talented person, in addition to the proud talent and free life, there is also an important criterion, that is, there is affection and righteousness. As the youngest of the "Eight Monsters of Yangzhou", Luo Ping was not only an introductory disciple of Jinnong, but also achieved a good story of "talent and beauty" with his wife Fang Wanyi.
Works by Fang Wanyi
Before Luo Ping became famous, he married Fang Wanyi. Fang Wanyi's family has been an official eunuch for generations, and her grandfather and father have all become officials, but because the official position is not large, the family is generally well-off. Although the couple lived a hard life, the two were like-minded and sympathetic. After marriage, the couple lived a comfortable life of talking about calligraphy and painting, traveling in landscapes and rivers, and giving poetry.
Later, Luo Ping became a great painter in the capital for a while, and Fang Wanyi was not willing to show weakness, and her poetry was famous all over Yangzhou City. The two have two sons, and the family is good at painting plums, and the "Luo Jia Mei Sect" is praised for a while.
Luo Ping, "Two-color Plum Blossom Diagram", ink pen on silk, Qing, 27.5×261cm, Collection of Beijing Academy of Painting
In the forty-fourth year of Qianlong, when Luo Ping entered Beijing again, Fang Wanyi was lying ill in bed. One night, Luo Ping, who was on the run, suddenly dreamed that his wife appeared in front of him with a plum blossom roll and said, "I, Go to Southern Yunnan!" Luo Ping woke up and was puzzled, and it was not until later that he learned that his lover had died of illness in Yangzhou.
Luo Ping's "Two-Color Plum Blossom Diagram" (partial)
Unlike the regret of his lover's yin and yang, Luo Ping can be said to be inseparable from his teacher. When Luo Ping first appeared in Yangzhou, he attracted the attention of Zheng Banqiao, Zhu Erting and others, and Jin Nong, who lived in the Western Temple, favored him even more. Jinnong often gave Luo Ping guidance in poetry and painting, and Luo Ping also admired him very much, often following him around.
Luo Ping's Portrait of Mr. Winter Heart (Partial)
In the twenty-second year of Qianlong, the 25-year-old Luo Ping took poetry as a courtesy and formally worshiped Jinnong as a teacher. The two apprentices soaked together all day, and Luo Ping eagerly learned painting from Jinnong. For this talented disciple, Jin Nong also praised Youjia: "Initially imitating the wild plum of Jianglu Road, and then learning the characters of Fern Horse, Strange Tree stone." The pen is clever and has no end in sight. ”
Jinnong's "Falling Flowers and Swimming Fish"
At that time, people often said that "seeing Luo Ping is like seeing Jinnong", and Jinnong often let Luo Hire ghostwriters, and Luo Ping often asked Jin Nong to write paintings - the two have long been integrated into a whole in creation and life. Until the twenty-eighth year of Qianlong, the 77-year-old Jin Nong passed away. Luo Ping, who took good care of his teacher when he was ill, was even more dedicated to handling the funeral. Two years later, with the financial support of others, Luo Ping escorted Jin Nong's coffin to be buried in Zhejiang.
Luo Ping's works
After Jin Nong's death, Luo Ping began to sort out the poems and inscriptions left by his teacher. Following the footsteps of Jin Nong's travels before his death, he traveled through thousands of rivers and mountains, only to search for the manuscript, carefully sorted out and compiled into "Mr. Winter Heart Sequel" - to complete Jin Nong's last wish.
Luo Ping", "Hero of the Grass"
Although he was born into poverty, Luo Ping's talent and friendship accompanied him throughout his life. His ghost has become a unique peak in Chinese painting, and his love affair with Jin Nong and Fang Wanyi has been passed down to this day. People often say that the talented person may refer to someone like Luo Ping!
Highlights:
He designed the most beautiful building in the world, but why is it described as "failure"?
How did the artist's Lantern Festival end?
He's a genius, but he's working harder than you! For painting, he was willing to be tied to a boat to withstand wind and rain.
[Editor, text/Jing Yumeng]