Lonely and unknown painters are very hard, but if they become big artists, a painting can sell for a million or even tens of millions, which should be the envy of everyone, right?
Do you really think so? That's wrong! As the predecessors told us, life is sometimes a siege of the city, some people want to go in, some people want to go out, even if they become a great artist, there are also troublesome problems, such as the great painter Yan Liben of the Tang Dynasty, who belongs to "the master who kills and does not want to be remembered by future generations."
Speaking of it, many people may not know that Yan Liben is called a "great painter and a great painter", but he forgets that he is actually the official and the prime minister, that is, a person who has also reached the extreme in the official field. Even di Renjie, a famous minister we are familiar with, was discovered by Yan Liben and recommended all the way!
Yan Liben is also an excellent architectural designer, one of the most magnificent palaces in human history, Daming Palace, which he is responsible for designing.
However, there is no need to wait for the vicissitudes of the sea and the passage of time, Yan Liben has already been fixed in the impression of a great painter in the era in which he lived.
Some people may say: "A big painter is a big painter, that is a good thing to leave a history, is he Yan Liben a pretentious person, this is not satisfied?" ”
Emmm, indeed, in the Tang Dynasty, being able to paint was a remarkable thing.
After all, if the painting is good enough, you can become a close confidant of the emperor, and from time to time you are "urgently recruited" into the palace, often walking closely with the emperor, which is a good thing that many people can't ask for... Are you sure?
In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, Tang Taizong Li Shimin hurriedly summoned Yan Liben into the palace.
At this time, the Taiji Palace is staging a classic historical drama - Princess Wencheng entering Tibet and kissing. For the sake of fairness, Li Shimin gave the envoys of various countries six problems, known in history as the "six trial marriage envoys", and yan Liben came to record this historic moment.
Yan Liben is also indeed powerful, and he has made a splash on one of the top ten famous paintings in China, "Step Map", which has flown through the ages.
In an era far from digitalization, every painter should dream of: to witness historical events with their own eyes and record them with a paintbrush.
However, Yan Liben was not just a "painter", he was the chief lord langzhong at that time, his job was to be responsible for the appointment of all officials, perhaps more than the author of paintings such as "Step Map", he hoped to become a historical protagonist recorded.
Later, when Li Shimin and the hundred officials were visiting and playing in the back garden, a strange bird suddenly appeared in the pool, and everyone was full of poetry. When Li Shimin saw this scene, he immediately issued a decree - to write a book in a hurry!
Yan Liben ran to the palace in a dusty manner, and was witnessed by many people whose official status was inferior to his: sweating on the ground to paint for the emperor - this was simply a great shame! It is better to be an official than to sell sweet potatoes!
When he returned home, he summoned his children and grandchildren to admonish: "You have all remembered me, don't learn this kind of painting and painting in the future!" ”
He admonished his son: "I am a good reader, spared from the wall, and my affection is quite turbulent." Only Dan Qing saw and knew, and the service of the servants was humiliating! Ru Yi deeply admonished, do not practice this last trick. —— Old Book of Tang and The Biography of Yan Liben
When you have one skill that's particularly outstanding, other levels of business tend to be buried. But it is impossible not to paint overnight, and it is even more impossible to quit the government to sell sweet potatoes because of this "small matter".
In short, during Li Shimin's reign, Yan Liben was "urgently recruited into the palace" all day long.
artist!
"Xiao Ji Earn Lan Ting"
Draw horses!
"Zhaoling Liujun" (Yan Liben painting, Yan Lide sculpture)
Draw monsters!
《Gong Tu》
"Zhao Liben..."
"Here it comes..."
Yan Liben was an eunuch all his life, an official to the prime minister, and he could be described as an extremely popular subject, and he also had the qualifications to enter the annals of history by relying on this status alone. However, 99% of his fame came from the "little trail" of his hand, and people mentioned that he was always said to be a good painter, and almost no one ever praised him as a good official and a good prime minister.
Even the history books say that Yan Liben became the prime minister only because he could draw.
It is not only auxiliary to the government, but it is a common material for service, and there is no prime minister. When Jiang Ke was promoted to the left side with his battle achievements, some people laughed at the "left phase Xuanwei Desert, right phase chi praise Danqing". - The New Book of Tang and the Biography of Yan Li
Alas, if Yan Liben had seen such an evaluation in the history books, it would have been estimated that he would have jumped out of the Zhaoling Tomb!
Oh, yes, because Yan Liben was an official who worshiped the prime minister before his death, and was eligible to be buried in Zhaoling after his death.
From then on, if Li Shimin wanted to look for him to paint, he would no longer have to rush.