Gardenscapes of Literature

Author: Wu Mengqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: In 1938, Xu Beihong was invited by Professor Xu Deshan, who the Chinese College of the University of Hong Kong, to hold an exhibition in Hong Kong. The exhibition was held at the university library. Beihong and Deshan were old acquaintances, and my home was near the university, so I invited Beihong to stay at my place. At that time, there was a German woman named Frau Martin in Hong Kong, who collected many ancient Chinese paintings, including some rare pieces. Deshan deeply regretted the outflow of Chinese cultural relics and had long intended to redeem some of them. With an expert arriving, it was the perfect opportunity to appraise them. Thus, he suggested an exchange of collections between Frau Martin and Beihong. Beihong conversed with Frau Martin in French, and they got along very well. Frau Martin then took out all her paintings for Beihong to admire. At a glance, Beihong spotted a long scroll in white ink depicting 87 figures in a row, moving gracefully and naturally, with lifelike expressions, as if divine and immortal. The composition was exquisite, the brushwork fluid and vigorous, and the style elegant and pure. It was indeed a rare treasure. Beihong was so moved that his heart raced and hands trembled. He proposed to Frau Martin that he would exchange his best work from this exhibition for it. Frau Martin happily accepted. Overjoyed with this precious painting, Beihong returned to my home, stamped it with the seal "Beihong's Life," and named it 《Eighty-Seven Immortal Figures Scroll》. Then he celebrated with Deshan with a hearty drink. P210